Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation

Background There are numerous flaps described for the treatment of fingertip amputation. Shortened nail length resulting from amputation is an ignored area. Eponychial flap is a simple procedure that helps to lengthen the nail plate and correct this deformity. Methods This case–control st...

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Main Authors: Srikant Aruna Samantaray, Kader Kalathingal, Hafiz Muhammed, Subin Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2022-12-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759552
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author Srikant Aruna Samantaray
Kader Kalathingal
Hafiz Muhammed
Subin Joseph
author_facet Srikant Aruna Samantaray
Kader Kalathingal
Hafiz Muhammed
Subin Joseph
author_sort Srikant Aruna Samantaray
collection DOAJ
description Background There are numerous flaps described for the treatment of fingertip amputation. Shortened nail length resulting from amputation is an ignored area. Eponychial flap is a simple procedure that helps to lengthen the nail plate and correct this deformity. Methods This case–control study was conducted between April 2016 and June 2020 aimed at comparing the outcome of nail defects in a fingertip amputation treated with eponychial flap and those treated without an eponychial flap. Results Among 165 patients treated for fingertip injury, 78 were treated with eponychial flap (group A) and 87 without eponychial flap (group B). In group A, the nail length was 72.54% (standard deviation [SD]: 14.4) and the nail plate area was 74.35% (SD: 13.96) compared with the contralateral uninjured nail. These results were significantly better (p = 0.000) compared with group B where the values were 36.49 (SD: 8.45) and 35.8% (SD: 8.4), respectively. The aesthetic outcome score was also significantly higher in group A patients (p = 0.002). The patient satisfaction was superior in group A compared with group B. Conclusion The eponychial flap is a simple and reliable technique that can be used to restore the visible nail length in traumatic fingertip defects. Compared with fingers treated without nail lengthening with eponychial flap gives excellent aesthetic results.
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1998-376X
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spelling doaj-art-ac5669570a82419dbee38ca1f04e5ddd2025-08-20T01:59:52ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2022-12-01550439139510.1055/s-0042-1759552Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip AmputationSrikant Aruna Samantaray0Kader Kalathingal1Hafiz Muhammed2Subin Joseph3Department of Plastic Surgery, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, Kerala, IndiaBackground There are numerous flaps described for the treatment of fingertip amputation. Shortened nail length resulting from amputation is an ignored area. Eponychial flap is a simple procedure that helps to lengthen the nail plate and correct this deformity. Methods This case–control study was conducted between April 2016 and June 2020 aimed at comparing the outcome of nail defects in a fingertip amputation treated with eponychial flap and those treated without an eponychial flap. Results Among 165 patients treated for fingertip injury, 78 were treated with eponychial flap (group A) and 87 without eponychial flap (group B). In group A, the nail length was 72.54% (standard deviation [SD]: 14.4) and the nail plate area was 74.35% (SD: 13.96) compared with the contralateral uninjured nail. These results were significantly better (p = 0.000) compared with group B where the values were 36.49 (SD: 8.45) and 35.8% (SD: 8.4), respectively. The aesthetic outcome score was also significantly higher in group A patients (p = 0.002). The patient satisfaction was superior in group A compared with group B. Conclusion The eponychial flap is a simple and reliable technique that can be used to restore the visible nail length in traumatic fingertip defects. Compared with fingers treated without nail lengthening with eponychial flap gives excellent aesthetic results.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759552fingertip amputationeponychial flapfingertip injury
spellingShingle Srikant Aruna Samantaray
Kader Kalathingal
Hafiz Muhammed
Subin Joseph
Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
fingertip amputation
eponychial flap
fingertip injury
title Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
title_full Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
title_fullStr Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
title_full_unstemmed Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
title_short Eponychial Flap: A Simpler Way to Achieve Better Aesthetic Outcome in a Fingertip Amputation
title_sort eponychial flap a simpler way to achieve better aesthetic outcome in a fingertip amputation
topic fingertip amputation
eponychial flap
fingertip injury
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759552
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