title: Hard palate mucosal grafts for defects of the nail bed.
abstract: The authors present 2 children in whom a hard palate mucosal graft was used for a defect of the nail bed after resecting subungual exostosis. After the tumor was resected with the overriding nail bed, hard palate mucosa without periosteum was grafted to the nail bed defect. In both patients the graft took completely, and within 2 weeks after the operation the patients were able to enjoy activities of daily life, including athletic movement, without any symptoms. Nail growth was uneventful and was complete in 4 or 5 months after the operation without any complications. The authors think that a hard palate mucosal graft is a valid choice for a defect of the nail bed, and the mucosa does not need to be harvested with periosteum. The grafting of hard palate mucosa without periosteum to a defect of the nail bed contributes to a shorter healing time, resulting in a reduction in the period of restriction of movement in activities of daily life, and this is a great advantage in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijocho, Kashihara, 634-0813 Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatoko
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurugi
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niitsuma
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iioka
authors.forename: Elvin G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Zook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005096:Exostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000637:transplantation*; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D021362:Palate, Hard; D011859:Radiography; D014034:Toes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*