Nail regeneration in digits replanted after amputation through the distal phalanx.

Nail regeneration was studied in 48 digits replanted after amputation through the distal phalanx. Twenty-seven were amputated through Tamai's zone I, at the nailbed level, and 21 digits were amputated through zone II, proximal to the nail. The nails of 9 digits in zone I and 14 in zone II showed almost normal nail regeneration. We observed that replantation after amputations distal to the lunula will show near normal nail regeneration if there is minimal postoperative circulatory disturbance. Amputations proximal to the lunula, however, have a greater chance of causing damage to the germinal matrix, which results in more problems with nail growth.