Advanced nail surgery

Six techniques not yet widely known or used in the dermatologic surgery of the nails are briefly described. Small-to-medium-sized tumours of the proximal nail fold (PNF) can be excised and the defect repaired with advancement or rotation flaps. A superficial biopsy technique of the matrix for the diagnosis of longitudinal brown streaks in the nail, which allows rapid histological diagnosis of the melanocyte focus to be performed, is described here. Because the excision is very shallow and leaves the morphogenetic connective tissue of the matrix intact, the defect heals without scarring. Laterally positioned nail tumours can be excised in the manner of a wide lateral longitudinal nail biopsy. The defect repair is performed with a bipedicled flap from the lateral aspect of the distal phalanx. Malignant tumours of the nail organ often require its complete ablation. These defects can be covered by a full-thickness skin graft, reversed dermal graft, or cross-finger flap. The surgical correction of a split nail is often difficult. The cicatricial tissue of the matrix and PNF have to be excised and the re-attachment of these wounds prevented. The matrix defect has to be excised and sutured or covered with a free matrix graft taken either from the neighbouring area or from the big toe nail.

In situ melanoma of the nail unit in children: report of two cases in fair-skinned Caucasian children

Nail melanoma in children is rarely reported in the literature, and all of the published cases were diagnosed in dark-skinned phototypes or in Asians. We report two cases of in situ nail matrix melanoma presenting as longitudinal melanonychia (LM) in fair-skinned children of Italian origin. Nail plate dermatoscopy revealed a brown background with lines of irregular color, spacing, and thickness in both cases. Histopathology of the excised lesions showed melanoma in situ. Clinical, dermatoscopic, and pathological criteria that permit clear differentiation of benign melanocytic activation or proliferation from nail matrix melanoma are not established for children. The presence of a pigmented band of a single nail in a child usually represents a problem for clinicians, because the clinical and dermatoscopic features that are considered possible indicators of nail unit melanoma in adults are frequently observed in benign melanocytic hyperplasia and nevi in children. There is therefore the need to find parameters useful for clinical and dermatoscopic diagnosis in childhood nail pigmentation and to reach a consensus on management of children with a band of LM.

Presentation, microsurgical therapy, and clinical outcomes in three cases of expanding melanonychia of the nail unit in children

The management of expanding melanonychia in childhood is controversial. Here, we present three cases and discuss their operating indications and reconstruction. Between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2007, one boy and two girls, were operated for expanding melanonychia, involving the thumb, index finger or the middle finger. They were 2, 4, and 7 years at the time of surgery. A complete resection of the nail plate was performed followed by a direct finger reconstruction using a free short-pedicle vascularized nail flap of the toe. Histology showed a junctional nevus in all cases. The follow-ups were after 2, 3, and 5 years and without any complications or recurrence. Regarding reconstruction, the mean Foucher and Leclère score were, respectively, 17 and 16 points. It is concluded that for expanding melanonychia, in case of doubt, an examination of the entire lesion is necessary. Reconstruction of the nail unit after wide excision with nail plate ablation can be performed using microsurgery as discussed below. However, new guidelines on shave biopsy can make this microsurgical procedure obsolete.

The effect of different pulse durations in the treatment of nail psoriasis with 595-nm pulsed dye laser: a randomized, double-blind, intrapatient left-to-right study

Several studies have proven the efficacy of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of plaque type psoriasis. However, only two published studies indicate the effectiveness of PDL on nail psoriasis.

Endovascular treatment of arterial injury as an uncommon complication after orthopedic surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate selective and superselective catheter therapy of serious arterial damage associated with orthopedic surgery of the pelvis, hip joint, femur, and knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 2005, 16 consecutive patients with arterial damage after orthopedic surgery (seven women, nine men; mean age, 62 years; age range, 21-82 y) underwent angiographic exploration. Seven patients were in hemodynamically unstable condition. Initial orthopedic procedures were iliac crest internal fixation (n = 1); total hip prosthesis (n = 3); revision of total hip prosthesis (n = 4); revision of acetabular cup prosthesis (n = 1); gamma-nailing, nail-plate fixation, or intramedullary nailing (n = 3); and total knee prosthesis (n = 4). RESULTS: Angiography showed pseudoaneurysms (n = 11), vascular lacerations with active extravasation (n = 3), and arteriovenous fistulas with extravasation (n = 2). After angiographic documentation of serious arterial injury, 14 patients were treated with a single or coaxial catheter technique in combination with coils alone, coils and polyvinyl alcohol particles, coils and Gelfoam pledgets, or Gelfoam pledgets; or balloon occlusion with isobutyl cyanoacrylate and coils. Two patients were treated with covered stents. In all, bleeding was effectively controlled in a single session in 16 patients, with immediate circulatory stabilization. Major complications included death, pulmonary embolism, and postprocedural hematoma. CONCLUSION: Selective and superselective catheter therapy may be used for effective, minimally invasive management of rare but potentially life-threatening vascular complications after orthopedic surgery.

Surgical anatomy of the nail apparatus

Nail surgery is an integral part of dermatologic surgery. An in-depth knowledge of the anatomy, biology, physiology, and gross pathology of the entire nail unit is essential. In particular, knowledge of nail histopathology is necessary to perform diagnostic nail biopsies and other nail procedures correctly.