• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.203-207
• /
• 2021

Penetrating brain injury caused by a nail gun is an uncommon clinical scenario reported in the literature. A 36-year-old male presented with a nail that had penetrated through the occipital bone. He was alert and neurologically intact except for visual disturbance. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain showed the nail lodged at the occipital lobe and the parietal lobe, with minimal intracerebral hemorrhage. The nail was placed in the occipital lobe close to the superior sagittal sinus. We removed the nail with craniotomy since the entrance of the nail was close to the superior sagittal sinus. There were no newly developed neurological deficits postoperatively. Immediate postoperative CT showed no newly developed lesions. The patient recovered well without any significant complications. Two weeks postoperatively, magnetic resonance imaging showed no remarkable lesions. The visual disturbance was followed up at the outpatient department. To summarize, we report a rare case of penetrating head injury by a nail gun and discuss relevant aspects of the clinical management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.293-295
• /
• 2014

Post-traumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) is a secondary insult which causes global cerebral hypoxia or hypoperfusion after traumatic brain injury, and carries a remarkable high mortality rate. PTCI is usually caused by blunt brain injury with gross hematoma and/or brain herniation. Herein, we present the case of a 91-year-old male who had sustained PTCI following a low-energy penetrating craniocerebral injury due to a nail without evidence of hematoma. The patient survived after a decompressive craniectomy, but permanent neurological damage occurred. This is the first case of profound PTCI following a low-energy penetrating craniocerebral nail injury and reminds clinicians of possibility this rare dreadful complication for care of head-injured patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.113-116
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Many fingertip injuries are associated with nail injury and it is hard to repair to original shape due to its unique characteristic. Mucosal graft is used for a defect of the nail bed injury. Hereby, we introduce a DAP flap and buccal mucosal graft, with which we could reduce the defect size of the injured fingertip and donor site morbidity at the same time, without any need for harvesting additional skin from other part of hand. Also, mucosal graft makes good cosmetic and functional outcome of nail. Methods: This method was performed in a 56-year-old man with fingertip injury on dorsal side of left thumb due to electrical saw. First, DAP flap was performed on the injured finger to reduce the size of the defect of fingertip and cover the bone exposure. Second, nail bed part of the DAP flap was de-epithelized and buccal mucosal graft was done from left side of intraoral cavity wall. Results: Flap and graft survived without any necrosis but some nail bed could not be covered with flap due to insufficient flap size. All wounds healed well and did not present any severe adversary symptoms. Conclusion: DAP flap with mucosal graft is an effective method that we can easily apply in reconstruction of fingertip injury. We suggest that the combination of the two procedures makes good functional and cosmetic outcome compared to the usual manner, especially in cases of nail bed injury without distal phalanx bone defect.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.21-23
• /
• 2017

Penetrating cardiac injury caused by nail gun is an uncommon life-threatening condition characterized by a rapidly severe hemodynamic status compromise. We report non-contrast-enhanced CT findings of a right ventricle myocardium injury leading to a fluid collection in the pericardial space with the same attenuation as blood. The CT findings well depicted the pathological feature of a significant cardiac injury and may be helpful for the surgical management.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.788-794
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The fingertip is the most commonly injured part of the hand and its injury frequently results in avulsion or crushing of a segment of the nail bed and fracture of the distal phalangeal bone. Restoration of a flat and smooth nail bed is essential for regrowth of a normal nail, which is important not only for cosmetic reasons but also for tactile capability of the fingertip. It is also anatomical reduction of the distal phalanx to promote patient's cosmetics and prevent nail bed deformity. Absence or no replacement of the nail plate results in obliterated proximal skin fold. When the avulsed nail plate cannot be returned to its anatomic position or when it is absent, we use a synthetic material for splinting the nail bed and alternative reductional method for distal phalangeal bone fracture, especially, instead of hardwares. Methods: From January of 2006 to June of 2009, a total of ten patients and fourteen fingers with crushing or avulsion injuries of the fingertip underwent using the artificial nails for finger splint. We shaped artificial nails into the appropriate sizes for use as fingernail plates. We placed them under the proximal skin fold and sutured to the fold proximally and to the lateral and medial edges of the nail bed or to the distal fingertip. Our splints were as hard as K-wire and other fixation methods and more similar to anatomic nail plates. Artificial nails were kept in place for at least 3 weeks. Results: No artificial nail related complication was noted in any of the ten cases. No other nail fold or nail bed complications were observed, except for minor distal nail deformity because of trauma. Conclusion: In conclusion, in order to secure the nail bed after injury and reduce the distal phalangeal bone fracture, preparing a nail bed splint from a artificial commercial nail is a cheap and effective method, especially, for crushed or avulsion injuries of the fingertip.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.675-678
• /
• 2008

A 42-year-old male was admitted because of an anterior neck injury due to accidental firing of a nail gun. On chest X-ray, the nail was stuck in the anterior neck, migrated to the chest, and then to the abdomen. Only the trachea was damaged, leaving no injury in the esophagus. The nail in the intestine was removed by colonoscopy. The patient showed complete recovery without complications after fasting and conservative treatment. We report this case with a literature review.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 2006

If autogenous nail is lost in nail bed injuries, alternative effective nail bed protection material is questionable in postoperative follow up period. The conventional modality with autogenous nail coverage have several disadvantages such as drawback of maintenance, higher chance of loss and complex dressing step (eg. ointment apply for humidification and nail fixation using tape or bandage). So, we have studied the usefulness of adhesive silicone gel sheet for alternative nail bed protection material until the end of nail regeneration. From March 2003 to July 2004, we have experienced 215 traumatic nail bed injuries except fingertip loss. Among these patient, we classified two groups, 30 cases with autogenous nail protection(Group I) and 30 cases with adhesive silicone gel sheet protection(Group II). Mean full nail growth time was 3.6 months in group I and 3.8 months in group II. Mean final nail appearance score(0: poor, 4: excellent) was 3.0 in group I and 3.5 in group II. Adhesive silicone gel sheet protection(Group II) was slightly superior to the autogenous nail protection in final appearance, especially sterile matrix laceration. In conclusion, we believe that adhesive silicone gel sheet application is a simple, acceptable, alternative method for protecting nail bed with loss of autogenous nail. It has a number of advantages compared with autogenous nail such as better humidification, controllable hygiene, less pain, less hospitalization, less frequent visit, less chance of loss, avoiding complex dressing step and more even pressure with adhesiveness, flexibility and durability.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2023

The surgical approach for humeral implant failure can be challenging due to neurovascular anatomy and the possible necessity of osteosynthesis removal. We present a rare case of humeral nail bending after secondary trauma in a patient with preexistent nonunion of the humerus after intramedullary nailing. During revision surgery, the nail was sawed in half and the distal part was removed, followed by plate osteosynthesis with cable fixation to achieve absolute stability. The patient regained a full range of motion 1 year after surgery, and complete healing of the fracture was seen on imaging.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.537-539
• /
• 2014

Penetrating cerebral injuries caused by foreign bodies occur rarely due to the substantial mechanical protection offered by the skull. Throughout most of history, the brain, residing in a "closed box" of bone, has not been vulnerable to external aggression. Recently, we encountered a serious penetrating craniocerebral injury caused by a nail gun. Total excision of the offending nail via emergency craniotomy was performed, but the patient's neurologic status was not improved in spite of aggressive rehabilitative treatment. Here, we report on this troublesome case in light of a review of the relevant literature.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.377-382
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Hook nail deformity is caused by inadequately supported nail bed due to loss of distal phalanx or lack of soft tissue, resulting in a claw-like nail form. A composite graft from the foot bencath the nail bed gives adequate restoration of tip pulp. Methods: From September of 1999 to March of 2004, six patients were treated for hook nail deformity and monitored for long term follow up. Donor sites were the lateral side of the big toe or instep area of the foot. We examined cosmetic appearance and nail hooking and sensory test. The curved nail was measured by the picture of before and after surgery. Results: In all cases, composite grafts were well taken, and hook nail deformities were corrected. The curved nail of the 4 patients after surgery were improved to average $28.7^{\circ}$ from average $55.2^{\circ}$ before surgery. The static two point discrimination average was 6.5mm and the moving two point discrimination average was 5.8mm in the sensory test. Conclusion: Composite graft taken from foot supports the nail bed with the tissue closely resembling the fingertip tissue, making it possible for anatomical and histological rebuilding of fingertip.