Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, 94305, United States
Location status: Recruiting
Location contact
Anna Luan, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Rachel Roller, MD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Recruiting
NCT Number: NCT07388823
Nailbed Repair for Patients With Nailbed Injuries
This study compares the outcomes of fixing nail bed injuries with nail bed repair versus irrigation and dressing alone. The main question this study aims to answer is "Does nail bed repair after nail bed injury lead to better outcomes?"
Recruiting
Interested in participating?
Request InfoKey information
Conditions
Age range
2 year and older
Sex eligibility
All sexes
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Not applicable
Primary location
About this study
This study compares two treatment methods for patients with nail bed injuries. The first method is irrigation and dressing. The second method is nail bed repair. Patients will be randomized into one of the two groups and outcomes will be documented in both groups.
Who can participate
Healthy volunteers accepted: No
Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.
Inclusion criteria
- patients 2+ years of age
- presenting with disruption of nail plate or laceration adjacent to nail which appears that it may extend into the nail matrix OR subungual hematoma >50% of nail
- presenting within 3 days of acute injury
Exclusion criteria
- missing (e.g. avulsed) nail bed or segment of nail bed,
- prior injury to affected nail
- need for surgical treatment of injury (e.g. underlying operative fracture)
Treatment and study plan
Nail Bed Repair
Other- Block involved digit with 3cc 1% lidocaine injected subcutaneously over volar and dorsal metacarpophalangeal joint
- Apply tourniquet to base of finger if desired
- Remove nail using freer/hemostats
- Irrigate wound with at least 500cc normal saline
- Repair nail bed laceration with 5-0 chromic or monocryl suture
- Stent eponychium with native nail or fashion substitute from foil suture packet and secure with 2 sutures
- Dress finger with bacitracin, xeroform, and 2" kling wrap
- Splint finger as needed with alumifoam splint (apply splint to volar side of finger so as to avoid pressure to nail bed)
- Repair any other lacerations as needed
Nail bed dressing
Other- If there is a subungual hematoma >50% of the nail, trephinate the nail plate using an 18G needle
- Irrigate wound with at least 500cc normal saline
- Dress finger with bacitracin, xeroform, and 2" kling wrap
- Splint finger as needed with alumifoam splint (apply splint to volar side of finger so as to avoid pressure to nail bed)
- Repair any other lacerations as needed
Primary outcomes
-
Oxford Nail Score
Time frame: From time of treatment, outcomes will be measured at 1-2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years
The Oxford Nail Score assess five cosmetic components marked as binary outcomes composed of nail shape, nail adherence, eponychial appearance, nail surface appearance and presence of a split. The final score is 0-5, where 0 is "least optimal appearance" and 5 is "most optimal appearance."
Secondary outcomes
-
Subjective Cosmesis
Time frame: 1-2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years
Patients will self-score their cosmesis on a 5-point Likert scale, from "excellent" to "very poor"
-
NRS Pain score
Time frame: 1-2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years
Patients will rate their nailbed on a 0-10 scale, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable.
-
Nail regrowth
Time frame: 1-2 weeks, 6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years
Nail regrowth will be documented on a binary scale (yes or no) by an evaulator via photo.
-
Evidence of infection
Time frame: 1-2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years
Evidence of infection will be evaluated on a binary scale (yes or no) by an evaluator via photo.
Study contacts
Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.
Sponsors and collaborators
Lead sponsor
Stanford University
Other
Registry information
Official study title
Nail Bed Repair RCT
Important dates
- Study start
- 2026
- Primary completion
- 2030
- Study completion
- 2030
- First posted
- Feb 5, 2026
- Registry last updated
- Jul 20, 2026
OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.
View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.
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