II. Pathophysiology

  1. Capillary leak at epidermal ridge

III. Signs

  1. Red or brown Nail Longitudinal Band 1-3 mm long
    1. Typically start as red and then transition to brown or black
  2. Involves nail bed (not nail plate)
  3. Lines persist despite pressure applied to the nail
    1. Lines are due to blood that has leaked from the vasculature

IV. Causes

  1. See Longitudinal Melanonychia
  2. See Nail Longitudinal Band
  3. Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis (classic)
    1. Only occurs in 15% of endocarditis cases
  4. Local Trauma (common cause)
  5. Psoriasis
  6. Onychomycosis
  7. Trichinosis
  8. Other conditions include renal, pulmonary and endocrine conditions

VI. References

  1. Degowin (1987) Diagnostic Exam, Macmillan, p. 697
  2. Tully (2012) Am Fam Physician 85(8): 779-87 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Splinter hemorrhages under nail (C0474374)

Concepts Finding (T033)
SnomedCT 271770005
English Splinter haemorrhages nail, Splinter hemorrhages nail, nail splinter hemorrhages, splinter hemorrhages of nail (physical finding), splinter hemorrhages of nail, Splinter haemorrhages under nail, Splinter hemorrhages under nail, Splinter hemorrhages under nail (finding)
Spanish hemorragias subungueales en astillas (hallazgo), hemorragias subungueales en astillas