An unusual presentation of a linear epidermal nevus

We report an unusual presentation of a linear epidermal nevus in an adolescent male. Epidermal nevi most commonly appear in infancy and early childhood. They often are found in association with other organ system anomalies. We describe a palmar linear epidermal nevus that caused impairment of the patient's use of his hand. Therapeutic management involved surgical excision of the nevus and reconstruction of the area with a full-thickness skin graft. (J Hand Surg 2001;26A3291-295. Copyright (C) 2001 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.).