A finger slammed in a door, a pollex hit with a hammer, a brick dropped on a toe — these nail injuries are common and extremely painful. They tin can cause claret to pool visibly nether a smash, which is called a subungual hematoma.

A subungual hematoma occurs when an injury breaks open claret vessels under the nail, causing claret to collect and become trapped in i spot.

Poorly fitting shoes tin also cause subungal hematomas, specially if the person is very active. Shoes that are as well tight or narrow can put pressure level on the toenail, breaking blood vessels and leading to a pool of blood nether the boom.

Running or hiking down steep hills or stopping and starting of a sudden, such equally while playing soccer or basketball, can also cause a blazon of subungual hematoma. This is often called runner'due south toe.

If a subungual hematoma is pocket-size and the pain is balmy, information technology volition usually resolve without treatment or complications.

Yet, if there is severe harm to the nail bed, or if the hurting is unmanageable, a person should seek medical treatment.

Subungual hematoma on fingernail Share on Pinterest
An injury may crusade blood to collect under the damaged nail of a finger or toe.

A person may take a subungual hematoma if they take injured their finger or toe and:

  • there appears to be blood under the nail
  • the boom feels sore or tender
  • it feels like there is pressure level nether the nail
  • the nail is discolored

People with bogus nails may not be able to see a subungual hematoma. If a person feels intense pain and pressure, they should remove the bogus blast and examine the boom bed.

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A doctor may perform nail trephination to drain the blood and help alleviate pain and pressure.

A minor subungual hematoma does non cause serious health issues. Abode remedies can help to manage pain while the injury heals.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce discomfort and swelling. In addition, the RICE method tin can be useful for small-scale subungual hematomas. RICE stands for:

  • Rest: Limit use of the afflicted finger or toe.
  • Water ice: Apply an ice pack, to reduce swelling and pain.
  • Compression: Apply pressure such as a wrap to the expanse immediately, to reduce the amount of claret that can puddle.
  • Height: Keep the affected mitt or foot elevated, to reduce swelling.

For more serious injuries, this may non exist enough. Any significant injury to the boom tin can damage or pause the bone underneath. A person should seek medical attention if:

  • the pain is unbearable
  • the injury happened to a baby or child
  • the haemorrhage is uncontrollable
  • at that place is a cut or laceration
  • the base of the blast is damaged
  • without injury, any nail turns night or discolored

A doctor may need to remove a severely injured nail or use stitches for deep cuts.

Sometimes the damaged nail is not removed but used as a cover to protect the nail bed while information technology heals. The damaged nail may need to be removed at a later date.

When the damaged nail bed heals, the haemorrhage volition terminate and a new smash volition abound.

If a doctor suspects that the bone is cleaved, they may guild an X-ray. Cleaved fingertips may be covered with a hard splint for several weeks to promote healing and to protect the expanse from farther injury.

A doctor may perform a procedure chosen nail trephination to bleed the claret from under the boom. This can help to relieve pain and pressure level.

The doctor volition make a minor hole in the smash with a laser or needle. Afterward, the surface area may be wrapped with a bandage and may continue to bleed for upwardly to iii days.

This procedure should non be attempted at home, as it can cause infections or further injury to the nail bed.

Possible signs of an infection include:

  • fluid or pus draining from under the nail
  • increased swelling or pain
  • reddish streaks in the skin
  • a fever
  • a feeling of heat or throbbing in the finger or toe
  • excessive redness around the expanse of injury

If any of these symptoms appear, see a dr. correct away.

Although it is rare, melanoma can occur under a fingernail or toenail. Melanoma is the deadliest form of peel cancer.

A tumor may look like a subungual hematoma. Melanoma can crusade a night marking to course under the smash. However, information technology does non normally cause pain and is not linked to an injury.

Speak to a doctor near any unusual marks or colors on the nail that announced without an injury.

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Information technology tin can take upwardly to 9 months for a modest subungual hematoma to heal under a toenail.

A pocket-sized subungual hematoma usually heals over fourth dimension without treatment. The trapped blood will eventually exist reabsorbed, and the dark marker volition disappear.

This can take 2–3 months for a fingernail, and upwards to 9 months for a toenail.

If in that location is severe harm to the nail bed, the nail may exist malformed or cracked when information technology grows dorsum. Or, information technology may fail to regrow. This is uncommon, however, and may be prevented past seeing a doctor for treatment when an injury occurs.