Factors Influencing the Acceptance of Toenail-to-Fingernail Transfer

Sae Hwi Ki; Hyung Joo Kang; Kun Hwang; Fan Huan

doi:10.1055/s-0032-1315765

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2012; 28(06): 413-418
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315765

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Factors Influencing the Acceptance of Toenail-to-Fingernail Transfer

Sae Hwi Ki

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Gwangmyung Sung Ae General Hospital, Gwangmyung-si, Gyunggi-Do, Republic of Korea

,

Hyung Joo Kang

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Gwangmyung Sung Ae General Hospital, Gwangmyung-si, Gyunggi-Do, Republic of Korea

,

Kun Hwang

²Department of Plastic Surgery and Center for Advanced Medical Education by BK21 Project, Inha University School of Medicine, 7-206 Sinheung-dong Jung-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea

,

Fan Huan

²Department of Plastic Surgery and Center for Advanced Medical Education by BK21 Project, Inha University School of Medicine, 7-206 Sinheung-dong Jung-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the factors influencing the acceptance of toenail-to-fingernail transfer. A total of 240 patients were divided into four groups according to severity of nail injury. Half (expensed informed [EI] group) were informed about the expenses (about $9,000) before the interview; the other half were not informed (the expense not-informed [ENI] group). The participants were asked to answer yes or no to the question “If you lose your fingernail and it can be reconstructed by transferring your toenail like this figure, will you undergo surgery? If you want it or not, please choose the reason for your choice.” In the EI group, 68.3% accepted the surgery. In the ENI group, 85.0% accepted the surgery. There was a significant difference between the EI and ENI groups (p = 0.002). In the EI group, the age of the surgery acceptance group (36.9 ± 11.8) was significantly lower (p = 0.004) than that of the surgery rejection group (44.5 ± 15.5). The young age group wished to accept the surgery irrespective of the expenses, yet the old age group hesitated to have surgery when informed about the expenses. We think the risk acceptance for toenail-to-fingernail transfer mostly depends upon the expense.

Keywords

nails - tissue transplantation - risk-taking

Full Text

References

References
1 Nakayama Y, Iino T, Uchida A, Kiyosawa T, Soeda S. Vascularized free nail grafts nourished by arterial inflow from the venous system. Plast Reconstr Surg 1990; 85: 239-245 , discussion 246–247
2 Shibata M, Seki T, Yoshizu T, Saito H, Tajima T. Microsurgical toenail transfer to the hand. Plast Reconstr Surg 1991; 88: 102-109 , discussion 110
3 Endo T, Nakayama Y. Short-pedicle vascularized nail flap. Plast Reconstr Surg 1996; 97: 656-661
4 Hirasé Y, Kojima T, Matsui M. Aesthetic fingertip reconstruction with a free vascularized nail graft: a review of 60 flaps involving partial toe transfers. Plast Reconstr Surg 1997; 99: 774-784
5 Hwang K, Ki SH, Choi HG, Hwang SJ, Kim DH, Han SH. Arterial anatomy of the second toe nail bed related to toenail transfer. Microsurgery 2010; 30: 646-648
6 Ki SH, Hwang K, Kim DH, Hwang SJ, Han SH. A toenail flap based on the fibro-osseous hiatus branch for fingernail reconstruction. Microsurgery 2011; 31: 371-375