title: [Lateral homodigital flaps pedicled with cutaneous branches of digital artery for repairing nail bed defects].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of using lateral homodigital flaps pedicled with cutaneous branches of digital artery for repairing nail bed defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2008 and July 2010, 5 patients with nail bed defects were repaired with lateral homodigital flaps pedicled with cutaneous branches of digital artery. Nail bed defects were caused by crush injury of machine. There were 3 males and 2 females, aged from 22 to 35 years (mean, 28 years). Injured fingers included 3 thumbs, 1 index finger, and 1 middle finger. The size of the defects ranged from 1.1 cm x 1.0 cm to 1.8 cm x 1.2 cm and the size of the flaps ranged from 2.7 cm x 1.3 cm to 3.1 cm x 1.7 cm. The donor sites were covered by skin graft. The time between injury and admission ranged from 1 hour and 12 minutes to 3 hours and 24 minutes (mean, 2.1 hours).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps and skin grafts survived, and the incision healed by first intention. The follow-up time ranged from 6 to 9 months (mean, 7.5 months). The fingers had good appearance. Four cases gained full postoperative sensory recovery and the two-point discrimination was 4-5 mm at 3 months after operation, but it did not recover in 1 case at last follow-up. According to the functional assessment criteria of upper limb formulated by the Hand Surgery Branch of Chinese Medicine Association, the results were excellent in 4 cases and good in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lateral homodigital flaps pedicled with cutaneous branches of digital artery can repair nail bed defects without sacrifice of digital artery, and can gain a full sensory recovery. It is a feasible solution for treatment of nail bed defects especially for those unwilling to cause any damage to their toes.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan 610041, PR China.
authors: Haitao
authors: H
authors: Xiao
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Cen
authors: Weixin
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Qi
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D055815:Young Adult