Which procedure permanently removes the nail root by cutting it out?

• A. Nail avulsion
• B. Ingrown nail
• C. Excisional matrixectomy
• D. Nail matrixectomy

Answer: (C)

Permanent nail root removal requires removing the nail matrix, the tissue that makes the nail. Excisional matrixectomy means surgically cutting out the nail matrix tissue, removing the source of nail production so the nail will not regrow. This is why it’s the best choice for a procedure intended to permanently stop nail growth.

Nail avulsion only takes out the nail plate, not the root, so the matrix can still produce a new nail. An ingrown nail is a condition, not a procedure. Nail matrixectomy is a broader term that can refer to procedures that may or may not involve complete excision of the matrix; it doesn’t specify cutting out the matrix tissue as clearly as excisional matrixectomy does.