A torn fingernail can cause big problems and be very painful. Everyone should know what to do if they tear off a nail and be able to provide first aid. All the necessary medicines are not always at hand, so it is important to consider how to act in different situations.
What to do if the nail is damaged?
In the event that a physical injury occurred and the nail begins to move away from the finger, it is worth immediately after the impact to place the finger with the torn off nail in cold water. If the injury occurred on the street, it is important to use improvised means as soon as possible to cool the wound.
Such actions are considered simply necessary, since it is the cold that can relieve pain and prevent hemorrhage from forming under the skin.
If the nail begins to move away from the finger, then cold should be applied every fifteen minutes for an hour. As soon as the blood stops, the resulting wound should be treated, it is advisable to use an iodine solution for this. Each movement must be careful so as not to cause the injured more pain. There are doctors who recommend applying a grid of iodine to the damaged area.
First Aid Algorithm
If a nuisance occurs: a person tears off a fingernail or a toenail, it is important to follow a certain algorithm of actions:
- First of all, do not panic and think that the nail can no longer grow. It is important to ensure complete sterility and prevent infection from entering the wound.
- To prevent the penetration of bacteria, you should use streptocide. This medication is sold in tablets, so you need to crush one thing and sprinkle the wound, after which it should be bandaged.
- A torn nail will grow over time. Sometimes the nail plate grows in a curve, but today it is possible to turn to specialists who will carry out the correction.
- A more dangerous situation is when a person tore off a fingernail completely. In this case, the help of a surgeon is required. Of course, initially it is worthwhile to provide first aid and apply a sterile dressing, and only then go to the doctor’s office. For speedy wound healing, you can use Levomekol ointment and change the dressing more often.
Serious wounds should not be treated at home, as there is a risk that due to improperly applied dressings, sterility will be impaired and infection will get into the wound.
As a result, the soft tissues of the finger can become inflamed. In this case, more serious treatment will be required, and in some cases even amputation.
How to correctly assess the scale of the injury
First of all, it is worthwhile to carefully examine how badly the injured person tore off the nail. If the nail remains in place or just a crack has formed, the prognosis is considered the most favorable. But sometimes complications can occur in the form of accumulated blood with pus under the nail plate. In no case should you tear off the nail completely. It is most correct to bandage it and wait until the finger heals and the plate begins to grow back. If the entire plate is torn off, then there is a risk of severe bleeding. In this case, you need to stop the blood and consult a doctor.
Types of injuries of the nail plate
A torn fingernail is not the worst thing that can happen. Such an injury happens with certain complications:
- The formation of a hematoma is dangerous, in which case the doctor will open a wound for the evacuation of blood. For this purpose, a hole is made in the nail through which pus is pumped out.
- If there was a dissection of the nail, then here you can not do without removing one part of it. The skin around the nail is hemmed, and the plate is glued with special glue. In this position, the finger remains for at least three weeks until complete engraftment.
- In the case when a person tore off a fingernail, the situation is significantly complicated. It is unlikely that he will be able to take root, but with a timely visit to the hospital, there is a chance of a successful operation.
- When a nail breaks, part of it can go under the skin. In this case, surgical intervention is required.
For any injury, you should definitely consult a qualified doctor. Only he can carry out the correct treatment.
Home treatment
After the extent of the injury is assessed, it is necessary to proceed directly to the treatment itself. If the wound is not too large, then the first two days it should not be bandaged so that oxygen is supplied, and healing comes as soon as possible. During the entire treatment period, an ointment with an antibiotic should be applied, which will accelerate recovery. Home treatment methods include the following:
- Dip your finger in the bath with soda.
- If the victim tore off the toenail and wants to maintain its beauty in the future, then you should steam the legs in baths with laundry soap, and then fill the finger with hydrogen peroxide.
It is important to remember that if the nail is damaged by 50%, then it is best to seek qualified medical help from a doctor.
Therapeutic treatments
Therapeutic techniques include the same methods as for home treatment. But sometimes it is necessary to act in a completely different way, since the injury can be serious. So that the doctor can properly examine the wound, it is necessary to rinse it well. Tetanus vaccine is taken into account. If it was done long ago, then it is repeated. If the patient tore off the nail, then the finger should be anesthetized by injection into its base. The finger loses its sensitivity for a while, and the surgeon calmly conducts the operation.
In addition, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, but such a need only appears if there are fractures or lacerations.
Surgeon tips
If the injury is serious and most of the nail is damaged, and blood starts to flow out of the finger, then it is important to stop the bleeding first. In this case, surgeons advise lifting the damaged part so that blood does not leak, as well as applying a sterile bandage and immediately go to the hospital.
Do not be afraid to see a doctor, since only he can properly clean the wound from accumulated blood with the help of a puncture. Also, a specialist will be able to prescribe an effective treatment, for example, when there is an accumulation of nails under the nail, it is recommended to make baths with a solution of Betadine. As a rule, with proper treatment, the nail should fully recover after three weeks. Any use of medications should be agreed with the doctor, otherwise there is a risk of complications.
Every woman should know how to act if she tore off a fingernail. What to do in this case is understandable, but it is also important to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the nail plate in the future. It should be smooth and beautiful, and a plastic surgeon will help in this.