The discount store artificial nail: An ideal splint for nail bed repairs

摘要

Dear Sir, After a nail bed repair, a splint is used to protect the nail bed and mould the growing nailplate, to prevent formation of synychia between the germinal matrix and eponychium, to splint underlying tuft fractures and to decrease fingertip pain (Zook and Brown, 1999). It should also help maintain an aesthetic fingertip while awaiting nail bed healing and re-growth of the nail. The patient's original nailplate is the best splint as it is completely biocompatible, costs nothing and provides the best cosmesis. Unfortunately it is not always available, as it is frequently damaged or heavily contaminated. Ayers and Malyon (2002) have identified several materials currently used as nail splints, each of which we have tried previously and disliked for various reasons detailed here. Commercially available Silastic sheets are expensive.