Nail injuries, often stemming from incidents such as dropping or slamming heavy objects on toes or fingers getting trapped in doors, are an unfortunately common and painful occurrence. Astonishingly, approximately twenty-five percent of nail injuries result from incidents involving car doors. Such injuries to the nail bed can lead to complications like scarring, infection, hook nails, or split nails. Moreover, sublingual hematoma, characterized by significant bruising or bleeding under the nail is a frequent consequence of these mishaps.

In the face of these injuries, many individuals resort to home remedies like gauze or an ace bandage to address the immediate aftermath. However, the outcome of nail bed injuries can vary widely. While some can be fully repaired, allowing the nail to return to its normal state, severe injuries may result in permanent nail deformities. Deformities are more likely to occur when the base of the nail bed, the crescent-shaped area, sustains damage. Typically, it takes approximately 3-6 months for a nail to regrow from the cuticle to the tip of the finger.

Fortunately, there exists an outstanding solution that has the potential to restore injured nails to their original state: The Nail Shield, part of the BioTrauma category of products ay Bioseal.

Current Treatment

Current treatment procedures for nail bed injuries involve the removal of the nail plate and subsequent repair of any damage to the nail bed. However, this conventional approach can lead to issues such as improper nail regrowth or fusion with the nail bed. Surgeons often use a small foil wrapper to separate the nail bed from the surrounding skin during the healing process, but this method has inherent limitations and can result in undesirable nail deformations.

Solution: The Nail Shield

The Nail Shield is the outcome of a collaborative effort involving Wichita State University, Flexcon, and Bioseal, specifically aimed at addressing the challenges posed by nail bed injuries. These injuries commonly occur during accidents, resulting in damage to both the nail plate and the underlying nail bed.

The Nail Shield represents a groundbreaking solution to this problem. This product is a thin, flexible plastic shield meticulously designed to conform to the natural curvature of the nail, allowing it to be securely sewn into the nail bed. Positive feedback received from test cases, including those involving Stephen Granberry, a Physician's Assistant in a trauma center, has been exceptionally encouraging. You can access a short clip of the inventor/creator of the Nail Shield Quick Overview from Wichita State University Matchmaking Program. 

The initial feedback has been positive in Granberry’s cases. This is an image of a patient mid-procedure where the nail splint is sewn into the nail bed. 

The Results

The Nail Shield outshines the conventional foil wrapper method in several ways. It effectively prevents nail deformation, simplifies the work for surgical personnel due to its rigid material, provides enhanced protection to the injured area, remains securely in place between follow-up visits, and significantly reduces the time spent in the operating room.

For healthcare providers, surgeons, and clinics, the accessibility of this product is invaluable. Whether it's in the hands of the orthopedic hand team during surgery or readily available in clinical settings, the Nail Shield can be conveniently stored in O.R. suite cabinets, ensuring easy access for various hand procedures.

Conclusion

In summary, the Nail Shield is a game-changing innovation that enhances patient protection while minimizing the risk of nail deformities, marking a significant advancement in treating nail bed injuries. It brings comfort and relief to those who have endured the pain and inconvenience of nail injuries, offering hope for quicker and more effective recoveries.

Resources:

●Home. Products - Bioseal Inc. (n.d.). https://www.biosealnet.com/biotrauma-kits/

●Darrell Sutijono, M. (2023, June 14). Nail bed (nailbed) injury management in the ed. Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/827104-overview

●Nail bed injury - surgical repair. TeachMeSurgery. (2022, January 13). https://teachmesurgery.com/plastic-surgery/hand-trauma/nail-bed-injuries/

●Hand condition: Nail bed injury - associated hand surgeons: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Oxnard. Associated Hand Surgeons. (n.d.). https://www.associatedhandsurgeons.com/hand-condition-nail-bed-injury

Author: Angela Lewellyn
Advantage Support Services, Inc.
Director of Development & Research