What is Lovibond’s angle?
It refers to the angle between the base of the nail and the nail itself. In healthy individuals, this angle equals to or is less than 165°.
It is also known as “Lovibond’s Profile Sign.”
Lovibond’s angle Location
As aforesaid, it is an angle and not a physical structure. It is only an angle between the nail plate and the adjacent skin fold when watched from the radial aspect.
Lovibond’s angle Function
The significance of this angle is only established in case of disorders like “Finger Clubbing.” If the angle is found to be greater than 180°, a clubbing of the fingers is suspected. In such cases, a Schamroth’s Window Test has to be conducted to confirm the disorder. Under normal circumstances, a diamond-shaped window is formed if two opposing fingers are positioned together. In case of clubbing, this window does not appear and there is widening of the distal angle created by the two nails. This is regarded as the “Schamroth’s Window Test.”
Pictures of Lovibond’s angle
Take a view of this angle with the aid of these assistive images.
Picture 1 – Lovibond’s angle
Picture 2 – Lovibond’s angle Image
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovibond’s_angle
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Clubbing.htm
http://archvermin.wikispaces.com/Lovibond+angle
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