[Free grafting of big toe nail bed repairing defects of fingernail bed]

To investigate the feasibility and indication of free grafting of split big toe nail bed for defects of fingernail bed.

From September 2008 to September 2011,13 cases (4 females and 9 males) with fingernail bed defects(aged 17-38,average,32) were treated with split big toe nail bed. The split big toe nail was harvested according to the defects size without bone exposure at donor site.

Three grafted nail beds were necrotic completely and reconstructed with flaps. The 2 grafted nail bed was partial loss and healed after dressing. All the other grafted nail bed survived completely with primarily healing both in donor sites and recipient sites. The patients were followed up for 6-30 months(average,14 months).The therapeutic effect was graded as excellent in 8 cases, good in 2 cases and poor in 14 cases(good rate,76.9％).The nail matrix was excellent in 8 cases,good in 1 case and poor in 1 case(good rate,90％).The toe nails in donor sites grew well.

The single fingernail defect with intact nail matrix can be reconstructed by split toe nail bed graft with good cosmetic and functional effect. There is no malfunction at donor site. The indication should be selected.