Hard palate mucosal grafts for defects of the nail bed

Biomaterials derived from hard palate mucosa for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Autologous materials have superior biosafety and are widely used in clinical practice. Due to its excellent trauma-healing ability, the hard palate mucosa (HPM) has become a hot spot for autologous donor area research. Multiple studies have conducted an in-depth analysis of the healing ability of the HPM at the cellular and molecular levels. In addition, the HPM has good maneuverability as a donor area for soft tissue grafts, and researchers have isolated various specific mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from HPM. Free soft tissue grafts obtained from the HPM have been widely used in the clinic and have played an essential role in dentistry, eyelid reconstruction, and the repair of other specific soft tissue defects. This article reviews the advantages of HPM as a donor area and its related mechanisms, classes of HPM-derived biomaterials, the current status of clinical applications, challenges, and future development directions.

Extraoral Uses of Autologous Oral Soft Tissue Grafts: A Different Bridge Between Mouth and Body Health

Focused Clinical Question: Are there any extraoral uses for intraoral soft tissue grafts? Summary: Despite extensive literature on the intraoral uses of soft tissue autografts harvested from oral sites, the periodontal literature is lacking information on the extraoral uses of such grafts. The purpose of this article is to review the autologous use of certain oral soft tissue grafts for extraoral indications. A literature search revealed that several medical specialties, including otolaryngology, ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic surgery, and urology, have a track record of positive outcomes with the use of free gingival, buccal fat pad, and buccal mucosa grafts for a wide variety of reconstructive procedures at diverse body sites. Conclusions: The numerous successful extraoral uses of oral soft tissue autografts underscore the versatility of these tissues in reconstructive surgery and suggest there is potential for collaboration between periodontal and medical specialists for the benefit of patients in need of such reconstructions. Broader awareness of these applications of oral soft tissue grafts could help expand their current uses and would allow practitioners to better answer possible patient inquiries.

Reconstruction of large area defect of the nail bed by cross finger fascial flap combined with split-thickness toe nail bed graft: A new surgical method

Fingertip injury commonly results in avulsion of the nail bed. For large area defects of the nail bed with distal phalanx exposure, methods for reconstruction of soft tissue defects are scarcely mentioned in the literature.From May 2014 to January 2016, 6 patients with large area defects of the nail bed with distal phalanx exposure were enrolled. A new surgical method, cross finger fascial flap combined with thin split-thickness toe nail bed graft, was applied in all patients.All the 6 patients were followed-up at least 3 months. Good blood supply and no infections were observed. The lengths of the thumb or fingers were preserved. Acceptable appearance and nail bed growth were noted. The donor sites showed no dysfunction or deformity.Cross finger fascial flap combined with thin split-thickness toe nail bed graft is a new and rewarding surgical method to reconstruct large area defect of the nail bed with distal phalanx exposure.

Nail bed defect covered with labial mucosa graft after subungal glomus tumor removal

The nail bed is an important part of the nail unit. It supports the nail plate, but does not regenerate itself. The labial mucosa and the nail bed both lack a granular layer. Because the keratinization of the nail bed can cause poor nail adhesion, harvesting graft from nonkeratinized sites is preferred. Furthermore, harvesting graft from labial mucosa is convenient in surgical approach. Therefore, the labial mucosa is more eligible for covering the nail bed defect than other graft methods. In this report, a 46-year-old female patient suffered from a subungal glomus tumor of the right fourth fingernail bed for 10 years. After the nail plate was removed, complete excision of the tumor was performed, and a labial mucosa graft was used to cover the defect. Eight months after the operation, the tumor had not reoccurred and no nail deformity was observed. This outcome demonstrates that our procedure is a good surgical option for treatment of nail bed defects.

Subungual exostosis treated with an in situ thin split-thickness toenail bed graft

Subungual exostosis is a slow-growing, benign outgrowth of normal bone or calcified cartilaginous remains of the distal phalanx. Complete surgical excision of lesions, including the cartilaginous cap, is a unique curative method. An 18-year-old male presented with a protruding papule on the right great toenail. Diagnosis of subungual exostosis had been established and complete excision was performed. In addition, an in situ thin split-thickness toenail bed graft was used to cover the defect. At 6 months after excision, the patient had no complaint of recurrence or pain. We report on a unique trial case of subungual exostosis treated with thin split-thickness nail bed grafts taken from the adjacent normal nail bed of the affected toe.

Treatment of nail bed defects with hard palate mucosal grafts

BACKGROUND

Nail bed defects produce a nail plate dystrophy that is permanent and presents important cosmetic problems. To correct the defect, we used a hard palate mucosal graft. This is a procedure with encouraging outcomes for nail bed scars.

OBJECTIVE

To show our initial experience with the hard palate mucosal graft technique for correcting nail dystrophy or permanent onycholysis secondary to a nail bed scar.

METHODS

This was a prospective, longitudinal, descriptive, observational study. We included five patients with a traumatic nail bed scar and one patient with congenital dystrophy. Seven nails were treated using a hard palate mucosal graft.

RESULTS

All repaired nails had a good outcome, with excellent growth and improvement in nail dystrophy. The patients had surgical recovery in 2 weeks and tolerable pain.

CONCLUSIONS

This is a relatively easy procedure for experienced surgeons to correct nail dystrophy secondary to a nail bed scar, with good to excellent results.

Subungual exostosis: a review of 16 cases focusing on postoperative deformity of the nail

We reviewed the clinical features of 16 patients who underwent surgery for subungual exostosis, focusing on postoperative deformity of the nail. In 7 patients, the lesion did not destroy the nail bed and was excised with a fish-mouth-type incision. In 9 patients, the lesion destroyed the nail bed and was excised with a direct approach. In 5 of the 9 patients, artificial skin was applied after excision of the tumor because the defect of the nail bed was large. Good postoperative appearance of the nail was obtained by a fish-mouth-type incision when the tumor did not destroy the nail bed, although 2 patients had local recurrence. Onycholysis occurred postoperatively when the tumor destroyed the nail bed and the defect of the nail bed was large after excision of the tumor. Secondary nail bed reconstruction may be indicated in such cases with postoperative deformity of the nail.