Whether you’ve walked into a wall, tripped over some misplaced toys, or dropped
something on your foot, injuring a toenail is often a harrowing experience. When that injury is more than a stubbed toe, you may find it difficult to know what to do.
Having an injured toenail has the ability to affect your daily life, potentially causing discomfort and preventing you from going on walks or exercising at all. As many people have to walk during the day, whether at home or at work, your toenail injury may quickly become worse than when it first appeared.
Our team at The Foot Clinic is experienced in addressing toe trauma. Read on to learn more about toenail injuries and how best to treat them!
For personalised advice, contact our team at The Foot Clinic today.
Types of Toenail Injuries
The first step to any treatment is to determine the type of toenail injury you have suffered. There are a variety of ways a toenail may be injured— below is a list of the most common types of injuries and their possible causes.
1. Subungual Hematoma
When the underside of your nail becomes discoloured with dark blue and black bruising, it means blood is collecting underneath the nail.
This is often caused by repetitive trauma to the nail bed which is often inflicted by the type of footwear you wear and activities you do. If this is a common injury for you, it may result in thickened or warped nails, which may cause discomfort. Many athletes are affected by this toenail injury due to the repetitive strain of running.
2. Nail Avulsion
Nail avulsion is when the nail is entirely removed from the nail bed. This may be caused by pulling at the nail and tearing it from the bed, which in turn may cause bleeding and pain.
Nail avulsion may be caused when your foot has been ground against something with extreme force, separating the nail from the skin.
3. Nail Fractures
When sections of your nail have been cracked or separated, this is a nail fracture. Though not as total as an avulsion, this often causes discomfort and pain.
This type of nail injury is most often inflicted by heavy impact trauma, such as dropping something on your foot, causing part of the nail to break apart.
4. Nail Bed Laceration
A nail bed laceration is when the nail bed underneath the nail has been cut in some way, often causing bleeding that may be excessive.
This can be caused by a cutting instrument, slicing through the nail to the bed below, or from a heavy impact falling onto the nail.
How to Treat Your Toenail Injury
If you have suffered a toenail injury, it’s important to avoid home treatments where possible. Avoid cutting or removing the nail around the injury, as it may exacerbate the wound and increase your risk of infection.
If it is a minor injury, you may not need treatment. Try to prevent repeated strain or re-injury by avoiding excessive activity, like running, as the pressure from your shoes may prevent natural healing.
If most of your nail bed is blackened and it does not seem to be healing on its own, or you have suffered a nail fracture or avulsion, it is often a good idea to see a professional so that they can determine the extent of the injury. Similarly, nail bed lacerations should be treated if the bleeding does not stop on its own, as the cut may require stitches.
If your toe looks like it may be infected, with yellow leakages around the affected area or pus coming up around the bed, it is important to seek professional care. This may result in your nail needing to be removed. However, in most cases it should grow back on its own and is unlikely to cause permanent harm.
Your Next Best Steps
If your toenail injury is causing you pain and you don’t know how to treat it, visit us at The Foot Clinic! We know what to do when you injure your toenail and aim to provide the most appropriate treatment in an effort to relieve your pain and prevent long term damage.
If you are unsure if you need treatment, our podiatrists at The Foot Clinic are more than happy to set up a session to assess your injury. Don’t hesitate to get in touch today!