Fingertip Reconstruction with Perionychial Flaps

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Out of nail components, nail plate, nail fold, paronychium, hyponychium, nail bed, and matrices are referred to as the perionychium. The authors report the outcomes of perionychial flap for reconstruction of fingertip injuries with nail bed injuries. METHODS: We performed 8 cases of perionychial flap for fingertip injuries with nail bed injuries between January 2012 and December 2015, and analyzed the outcomes of the reconstruction surgery. The patients evaluated the aesthetic results on a four-point scale, and we measured and evaluated the ratio of axis length of the nail plate compared with collateral side of normal nail plate. RESULTS: The mean follow up period was 8.4 months, and range of motion of distal interphalangeal joints and sensation of the reconstructed pulp were normal in all patients. After reconstructive surgery the nail plates regrew up to 80% in average compared to the normal side, and the satisfactory score were good to excellent as 3.8 point in average. CONCLUSION: The reconstruction of fingertip injuries with nail bed injuries using perionychial flap including paronychium and hyponychium is safe and easy procedure and aesthetic outcomes were excellent. The authors consider the perionychial flap as a useful technique for fingertip reconstruction.