Microvascular Nail Transfer

Abstract

A composite of nail and its skin appendages can be transferred for the foot to the hand by microvascular anastomosis. For technical reasons, the most suitable donor nail is from the big toe, and this most closely approximates the thumb nail. A finite portion of hemipulp must be included with the transfer to ensure adequate vascularization. Nail size can be reduced by resection of the edges of the germinal matrix so as to match the donor defects. For finger nail reconstruction, it is usually more practical to transfer the whole of the tip of the second or third toe to replace the whole of the tip of the finger. The indications of nail reconstruction by this technique are relatively rare and are predominantly cosmetic.