Surgical repair for deformities of the nail unit

Abstract

Nail unit is an important structure for both aesthetic appearance and functional capability of the fingers and toes, and any defect or lesion at this anatomical site would lead to nail unit deformity. Surgical repair is the main treatment for such deformity. According to etiological and anatomical classification, appropriate surgical procedures can be chosen to repair the nail unit deformity, including autologous fat grafting, split-thickness nail bed grafting, full-thickness nail matrix grafting, nail bed elongation, palmar V-Y advanced flap reconstruction and so on. This review systematically summarizes classification of the nail unit deformity and associated surgical repair techniques. Key words: Nail deformity; Surgical repair; Onychology; Nail surgery