Surgical treatment of acute fingernail injuries

P Tos, P Titolo, N L Chirila, F Catalano, S Artiaco, P Tos, P Titolo, N L Chirila, F Catalano, S Artiaco

Abstract

The fingernail has an important role in hand function, facilitating the pinch and increasing the sensitivity of the fingertip. Therefore, immediate and proper strategy in treating fingernail injuries is essential to avoid aesthetic and functional impairment. Nail-bed and fingertip injuries are considered in this review, including subungual hematoma, wounds, simple lacerations of the nail bed and/or matrix, stellate lacerations, avulsion of the nail bed, ungual matrix defect, nail-bed injuries associated with fractures of the distal phalanx, and associated fingertip injuries. All these injuries require careful initial evaluation and adequate treatment, which is often performed under magnification. Delayed and secondary procedures of fingernail sequelae are possible, but final results are often unpredictable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anatomy: 1 nail plate, 2 nail bed, 3 nail matrix, 4 eponychium, 5 hyponychium, 6 proximal nail fold, 7 nail root
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Fingernail avulsion, b polypropylene substitute, c clinical result at 12 months
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Transversal nail-bed lesion, b nail haubanage, c postoperative nail haubanage, d postoperative nail haubanage X-ray
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a X-shaped suture, b U-shaped suture, c nail-bed suture, d nail-substitute X-shaped suture, e clinical result at 4 months, f clinical result at 12 months

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Source: PubMed

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