title: Thin split-thickness toenail bed grafts for avulsed nail bed defects.
abstract: Avulsed defect of a fingernail bed is a common injury in acute hand trauma. Insufficient management for this type of nail bed avulsion often leads to an irregular and nonadherent nail. The use of thin split-thickness sterile matrix graft from the great toe for immediate replacement of a nail bed defect can regain a smooth, adherent, and normal-looking nail. Between May of 1998 and December of 2001, we used thin split-thickness toenail bed grafts in 13 fingers of 12 patients with avulsed defects of the nail bed. The end results of this technique were excellent and no deformities occurred in the graft donor area. Thin split-thickness toenail bed graft is a good choice for the treatment of acute nail bed avulsion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shang-Chin
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Shao-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tim-Mo
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tiang-Yeu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hsian-Jenn
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome