[Effectiveness of great toenail bed flap supplied with fibular dorsal artery of great toe for finger nail bed central longitudinal defect].

Objective: To explore the surgical method and effectiveness of the great toenail bed flap supplied with the fibular dorsal artery of great toe in repair of the finger nail bed central longitudinal defect.

Methods: Between May 2012 and February 2017, 7 cases (7 fingers) with the finger nail bed central longitudinal defects were repaired with the great toenail bed flap supplied with the fibular dorsal artery of great toe. There were 3 males and 4 females; the age ranged from 17 to 35 years (mean, 27 years). The cause of injury included cutting injury in 2 cases, electric shaving injury in 3 cases, and frictional injury in 2 cases. The defect located at thumb in 3 cases, index finger in 3 cases, and middle finger in 1 case. The defect area ranged from 12 mm×8 mm to 21 mm×13 mm. The time from injury to admission was 1-2 hours (mean, 1.5 hours). The area of the great toenail bed flap ranged from 14 mm×10 mm to 23 mm×15 mm. The wound of donor site was directly sutured in 3 cases and repaired with full thickness skin graft in 4 cases.

Results: All the great toenail bed flaps and skin grafts at the donor sites survived; and all wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 9 to 36 months (mean, 23 months). The finger nails were smooth and shiny and recovered ideal appearance. At 9 months after operation, the two-point discrimination of the skin ranged from 7 to 9 mm (mean, 8 mm). According to the standard evaluation for nail bed repair issued by Zook etc., 6 cases were rated as excellent and 1 case as good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%.

Conclusion: It is an ideal method to repair the finger nail bed central longitudinal defect with the great toenail bed flap supplied with the fibular dorsal artery of the great toe.