Fixation of the nail plate by tension band suture versus 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate gluing for traumatic nail bed injuries reduced without suture: A retrospective study of 27 cases.

Repair of the nail bed and plate after distal phalanx trauma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether simple approximation of the nail bed flaps maintained by tension band suture of the nail plate is sufficient to prevent nail dystrophies. Our series gathered 27 fingers in 25 patients with a mean age of 36 years. In 15 cases (Group I), the nail plate was fixed in a single layer by a point in a frame, and in 12 cases (Group II), the bed and the plate were fixed layer-by-layer using the wound adhesive, 2-octylcyanoacrylate. At the last follow-up, the Zook score was excellent and very good in 100% of Group I patients, and in 83.3% of Group II patients. Within 8 days, the average pain was 1/10 in Group I, and 2.5/10 in Group II. There was one infection in Group I and four hematomas in Group II. The Quick DASH score was 1.13/100 in Group I and 0 in Group II. Our results show that in the case of a traumatic nail bed injury, suturing the nail bed and applying 2-octylcyanoacrylate adhesive is less effective than simple approximation of the nail bed flaps by tension band suture of the nail plate.