Application effect of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix in the repair of nail fold asymmetry deformity after complete syndactyly reconstruction in children
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20240615-00156
- VernacularTitle:同种异体脱细胞真皮在儿童完全并指术后甲襞不对称畸形修复中的应用效果
- Author:
Zhengfu YU
1
;
Jie CUI
;
Weimin SHEN
;
Jijun ZOU
Author Information
1. 南京医科大学附属儿童医院烧伤整形科，南京 210008
- Keywords:
Hand deformities;
Syndactyly;
Child;
Acellular dermal matrix;
Nail fold asymmetry deformity;
Cicatrix
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2024;40(11):1168-1174
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the clinical application effect of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in the repair of asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with secondary asymmetric nail fold deformity after complete syndactyly surgery treated at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from January 2022 to December 2023. The patients required a secondary surgical repair due to insufficient soft tissue capacity with or without scar contracture, causing asymmetry of the nail fold after finger separation at the distal end following syndactyly surgery. During the operation, continuous Z-plasty was designed along the original surgical scar axis and incised towards the proximal end of the lateral nail fold, followed by thorough scar release. Scar debulking surgery was performed if there was significant local scar hyperplasia. A tunnel was created from the incision site near the lateral nail fold to reach the fingertip subcutaneously. ADM was filled into this tunnel until a satisfactory appearance of the lateral nail fold was achieved. The flaps were then closed by cross-suturing. Regular follow-up observations were conducted on the incision healing, scar, and appearance of the finger, and aesthetic evaluation according to Bulic’s standards was performed, classifying them into four grades: excellent, good, fair, and poor.Results:The study enrolled 12 patients, and nail fold asymmetry appeared 3 to 6 months after surgery, with 8 males and 4 females, ranging from 1 to 9 years old (average age 4.6 years). Affected digits included both hands in 7 cases and one hand in 5 cases, totaling 38 fingers. All 12 cases including 25 fingers presented with insufficient distal capacity in their fingers; seven cases including 16 fingers also had scar contracture resulting in poor appearance. All procedures were successfully performed. Post-operatively, one case of necrosis at the tip of the scar flap was observed after 12 days of removing the dressing but healed after dressing changes, and no infections or flap necrosis occurred in the remaining patients, with the incisions healing primarily. Follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 24 months, with an average duration of 13.6 months. All patients achieved the restoration of soft tissue capacity in the finger lateral nail fold, varying degrees of correction for asymmetrical nail fold deformities, and complete release for scar contracture, with 7 fingers in 4 cases rated as excellent, 12 fingers in 5 cases as good, 4 fingers in 2 cases as fair, and 2 fingers in one case as poor in evaluation of fingertip appearance.Conclusion:The use of ADM for filling is effective in restoring soft tissue capacity and correcting asymmetrical deformities caused by secondary nail fold abnormalities after complete syndactyly repair surgery in children. It has shown good clinical outcomes with minimal complications.
