Ostler’s Nail or Ostler’s Toenail is an older historical name for onychogryphosis which is defined as a thickened and deformed toe nail that is typically caused by trauma. It is a name used in some of the older textbooks.
An ostler was someone who worked with horses. This was typically when people stopped at an inn, the ostler took care of the horses. Ostlers often got their foot stood on by horses, damaging the nail plate causing the thickened deformed nail plate of onychogryphosis, hence the name of Ostler’s nail. There are many other causes of trauma to the nail plate that can cause this other than having a horse stand on the toenail.
“Ostler” is from British English. It is spelled “hostler” in American English.
This nail has also been referred to as a ‘ram’s horn nail’ due to the shape of the nail as it grows longer taking on the appearance of a ‘ram’s horn’.
Related Topics:
Onychogryphosis | Foot Eponyms
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