Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Treatment methods for defects of fingertip skin or soft tissue combined with partial deletion bed include the phalanx shortening or flap coverage of wounds, each with shortcomings.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of repairing finger nail bed defects by different treatments in one stage, and to evaluate the functional recovery of nail beds comprehensively.
METHODS: From December 2002 to February 2009, 51 fingers with nail bed defects in 40 patients (11 thumbs, 22 index fingers, 14 middle fingers, 4 ring fingers) were repaired. Under the situation that the periosteum exist, when the area of nail bed defect area was less than one third of the nail, the graft was taken from the same finger. If the area of nail bed defects were larger than one third of the nail or two nail bed defects, the grafts were taken from the nail beds of 1st or 2nd toes. Under the situation that the periosteum nonexist, when the area of nail bed defect area was less than one half and more than one third of the nail, the split tissue flap was transferred from the same finger. The finger appearance and functions were observed in the follow-up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were followed up from 1 month to 2 years with an average of 6 months, 86.3% grafts survived very well, no pain, no infection and obvious deformed growth of nail were found. It revealed that using different treatment to repair nail bed defect is available. The grafted nail can grow in good appearance, and finger can act in good function.