Fingertip reconstruction with flaps and nail bed grafts.
We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 14 fingertips reconstructed with a combination of local or regional flaps and nail bed grafts, some of which were placed wholly or partially over a de-epithelialized flap. Most of the fingertips sustained a crushing injury and were reconstructed at the time of the injury. Soft tissue coverage was provided by palmar V-Y flaps in 6 cases, thenar flaps in 4, lateral V-Y flaps in 2, a Moberg flap in 1, and a cross-finger flap in 1. Split toenail bed grafts were used in 6 cases, full-thickness nail bed grafts from the amputated part in 6, and split nail bed grafts from the injured digit in 2. There was 1 partial graft loss and 1 partial flap loss. The remaining cases had completely successful grafts and good soft tissue healing. Subsequent nail growth and adherence were good in all but the 1 digit requiring secondary composite grafting.
Brown
R E
RE
Division of Plastic Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9248, USA.
Zook
E G
EG
Russell
R C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome