Injuries to the nail bed in childhood

C J Inglefield1, M D'Arcangelo, P S Kolhe

  • 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, UK.

Insights

Prompt primary repair of childhood nail bed injuries is crucial for preventing deformities. Meticulous surgical repair in 19 children resulted in normal nail growth and high satisfaction, highlighting the importance of timely intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric surgery
  • Traumatology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Childhood fingertip injuries frequently affect the nail bed.
  • Inadequate primary nail bed repair often leads to persistent nail deformities.
  • Secondary correction of established nail deformities yields suboptimal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the outcomes of primary nail bed injury management in children.
  • To assess the efficacy of meticulous surgical repair in preventing nail deformities.
  • To report on complications and parental satisfaction following nail bed injury treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 19 children (22 injuries) treated for nail bed injuries.
  • Focus on primary surgical repair techniques.
  • Assessment of nail growth, deformity, complications, and parental satisfaction.

Main Results:

  • All patients achieved normal nail growth post-primary repair.
  • Overall successful repair outcomes reported in 91% of cases.
  • Low incidence of complications and high levels of parental satisfaction were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Meticulous primary repair of pediatric nail bed injuries is essential.
  • Timely and precise surgical intervention significantly improves functional and aesthetic results.
  • Prioritizing primary repair minimizes the need for secondary corrective procedures.

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