Introduction: The lateral extent of the germinal matrix area of the nail is not demonstrated in the literature. Objective: To identify the lateral limits of the ungueal matrix. Material and methods: We evaluated the proliferation area of the lateral extent of the nail matrix on surgical samples resulting from the matricectomy for the treatment of ingrowing nail of the hallux with the Ki-67 immunohistochemical marker. We obtained 21 samples and observed the epidermis, ventral and dorsal region of the matrix, as well as ventral and dorsal matrix of the lateral/medial angle. Results: The test of multiple comparisons demonstrated that the number of cells in the ventral matrix is higher than the number found in the skin, in the dorsal matrix, in the angle of the dorsal matrix and in the angle of the ventral matrix. The number of cells in the skin and in the angle of the ventral matrix is higher than the number found in the angle of the dorsal matrix. Conclusion: The lateral limit of the ungueal matrix has proliferation activities. The surgery performed without the complete removal of the lateral/medial proliferation region of the nail matrix may infl uence the recurrence rate of matricectomies.

Keywords: HALLUX, NAILS, IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY, AMBULATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Onychocryptosis is a frequent nail disease, which most commonly affects the toes. It has some variants, including the little known "Harpoon Nail". The diagnosis is usually clinical, and the treatment is surgical, with different techniques described in the literature. We report the case of a 25-year-old man with a harpoon nail on the left hallux and the surgical method used for treatment with excellent results

Keywords: Nail diseases; Nails ingrown; Hallux

Intravascular endothelial hyperplasia, or Masson’s tumor, is a benign vascular lesion with no well-defined pathogenesis. The response to vascular damage is believed to be one of the main reasons for its development. It is a typically painless injury, solitary, with slow evolution. This report aims to describe a case of Masson’s tumor in an unusual place, the hallux nail matrix, and discuss its main characteristics.

Keywords: Hyperplasia; Hallux; Endothelium, Vascular.