[Injuries of the fingernail area in childhood]

The authors submit a summary of the most recent findings on the damage of the nail area of the fingers of the hand (nail matrix, surrounding soft tissues, skeleton excluding avulsion fractures and epiphyseolyses.). The reason is the fact that almost 50% of all finger injuries in children under 5 years include also damage of this complex. Although the incidence of this injury is relatively high there is no uniform therapeutic procedure and unfortunately very frequently therapeutic procedures do not lead to favourable results. This apparently trivial injury can however, in particular in relation to occupation, lead not only to cosmetic but also functional disorders and therefore it is necessary to pay adequate attention to it. The authors supplement data from the literature by their own experience with the treatment of this comprehensive injury. The objective of the work is therefore to summarize available therapeutic findings on the classification and diagnostic procedures of these apparently light injury from the layman's aspect and unfortunately also from the aspect of some professionals, these injuries being overlooked and underrated (Innis, 1995). Particular attention is however devoted to adequate treatment which must lead to restoration of the injured fingers to full function which subsequently will restore the comprehensive role of the whole hand.