title: Treatment and prevention of "hook nail" deformity with anatomic correlation.
abstract: The hook nail deformity is a relatively common complication after fingertip amputation. It can be corrected or prevented with a carefully performed surgical procedure. The nail plate is removed. The redundant nail bed that is folded over the tip of the terminal phalanx is carefully removed with an additional 2 mm that is supported by the terminal phalanx so that wound healing will not draw the nail bed over the tip of the phalanx again. The fingertip is then resurfaced by a V-Y advancement flap, with precautions taken to avoid all tension in the flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satku
mesh_terms: D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002102:Cadaver; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009264:Nails, Malformed / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods