Fingertip reconstruction with flaps and nail bed grafts

We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 14 fingertips reconstructed with a combination of local or regional flaps and nail bed grafts, some of which were placed wholly or partially over a de-epithelialized flap. Most of the fingertips sustained a crushing injury and were reconstructed at the time o f the injury. Soft tissue coverage was provided by palmar V-Y flaps in 6 ca ses, thenar flaps in 4, lateral V-Y flaps in 2, a Moberg flap in 1, and a c ross-finger flap in 1. Split toenail bed grafts were used in 6 cases, full- thickness nail bed grafts from the amputated part in 6, and split nail bed grafts from the injured digit in 2. There was 1 partial graft loss and 1 pa rtial flap loss. The remaining cases had completely successful grafts and g ood soft tissue healing. Subsequent nail growth and adherence were good in all but the 1 digit requiring secondary composite grafting. Copyright (C) 1 999 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.