Cited 2 times since 2015 (0.2 per year) source: EuropePMC International journal of surgery case reports, Volume 15, 30 5 2015, Pages 133-136 Case report of nail bed injury after blunt trauma; what lies beneath the nail? Nanninga GL, de Leur K, van den Boom AL, de Vries MR, van Ginhoven TM
Introduction
A stable, mobile and sensate fingertip is of paramount importance to perform daily tasks and sense dangerous situations. Unfortunately, fingertips are easily injured with various extents of soft tissue damage. Delayed and inadequate treatment of nail bed injuries may cause substantial clinical problems. The aim is to increase awareness about nail bed injuries among physicians who often treat these patients.
Presentation of case
We present a 26-year-old male with blunt trauma to a distal phalanx. Conventional radiographs showed an intra-articular, multi-fragmentary fracture of the distal phalanx. At the outpatient department the nail was removed and revealed a lacerated nail bed, more than was anticipated upon during the first encounter at the emergency department.
Discussion
Blunt trauma to the fingertip occurs frequently and nail bed injuries are easy to underestimate. An adequate emergency treatment of nail bed injuries is needed to prevent secondary deformities and thereby reduce the risk of secondary reconstruction of the nail bed, which often gives unpredictable results.
Conclusion
However, adequate initial assessment and treatment are important to achieve the functional and cosmetic outcomes. Therefore awareness of physicians at the emergency department is essential.
