Finger Tip & Nail Bed Injury Treatment

Finger Tip and Nail Bed Injuries

10% of all room visits include hand injuries, with tip-and-nail bed injuries becoming the most frequent type. Fewer cuts and scratches, fractured fingers, lacerations of the nail bed, mutilations of fingertip tips, and crushing injuries are just a few categories for hand injuries. 

When a nail bed or fingertip injury happens, it is crucial to get medical attention immediately; if the injury is not treated, the function may be lost, and permanent deformity may occur.

Injuries at home, at work, or while playing can result in harm to the fingertip and nail bed. Injury to the bone, nerves, soft tissue, skin, fingernailsand nail bed are just a few examples of injuries. Getting your fingers stuck in a door or machine is a common cause of crushing injuries.

What is a fingertip and nail bed injury?

The skin under the nail is known as the nail bed. Injury to this region is widespread, and it frequently happens when a sharp object cuts a person or when a heavy object falls and crushes or strikes the fingers or toes.

The fingertips are the final organ of touch and are incredibly rich in unique sensory receptors that allow the hand to communicate an object's shape, warmth, and texture.

Fingertip injuries are those that happen away from where the flexor and extensor tendons are inserted. They are the most frequent hand injuries that, if left untreated, can result in serious functional and aesthetic deficits.

The nail bed and supporting components can mend with prompt treatment, ensuring that the fractured nail grows back without difficulty. 

Types

Under-nail hematoma

An under-nail hematoma is caused by blood that becomes entrapped there. It usually results from a hefty object striking or crushing your nail. The nail will turn black and blue, and you will experience excruciating pain. Typically, this appears under your nail as a bruise.

Nail laceration 

Your fingernail and the nail bed beneath it getting cut causes a nail bed laceration. It can also be brought on by a compressive injury but is typically brought on by a saw or knife. It will probably bleed if you have a laceration in your nail bed. The cut will be visible through your nail. You can develop a significant bruise when it heals.

Nail bed avulsion 

When your nail and a portion of your nail bed are ripped away from the remainder of your finger, it is known as a nail bed avulsion. It frequently affects your ring finger and is brought on by your finger getting caught or jammed. Avulsions of the nail bed injury hurt a lot and make your finger swell. With this kind of damage, finger breaks are also typical.

If your nail didn't fall out as a result of the damage, you would need to have it removed if you suffer from a nail bed avulsion.

Other wounds

Nail bed injury can also result in other problems, like broken fingers or amputations.

Causes

A simple fingertip injury may cause a very painful blood stain under the nail. The nail may break into fragments, it may pull a portion of the nail or fingertip off, and the finger may also sustain various injuries in more serious accidents.

There are numerous factors that might lead to a nail bed injury, including:

• Bone fractures
• Cuts on the fingertip or nail bed
• Injuries to the muscles that flex or straighten the fingertip
• Nerve-ending severance
• These wounds frequently arise from situations like catching a fingertip in a door. A nail bed injury can result from any crushing, pinching, or severe cut to the fingertip.
• The nail bed can be hurt by being struck by a sledgehammer or by heavy objects that fall on your finger.
• Nail bed injuries can even happen due to tendons that allow you to flex and extend your fingertip.
• It cuts to the nerve terminals in your fingertip.

Diagnosis 

The doctor will execute the following procedures after thoroughly inspecting the hand or foot, including the injured nail, to determine the level of finger injuries treatment and repair required.

To ascertain any potential injuries and whether the wound is infected, the doctor will consider the following things - 

• The doctor will inquire about your most current tetanus vaccine date, medicines, sensitivities, and other health issues.
• An extensive analysis of the fingertip injury is conducted. 
• All bone and tissue damage, as well as analysis of tendons and nerve. 
• X-rays can be taken to help identify an injury and the presence of other bodies.
• The doctor will examine your pulse and your blood pressure.

Finger injuries Treatment

• Subungual hematomas and other small nail bed injuries frequently go away completely on their own, particularly if no additional lesions are present. By ensuring that the nail bed heals properly, a new nail can develop on a smooth surface with professional care assistance.

• A doctor may treat a more serious subungual hematoma by drilling a tiny hole in the nail and emptying the accumulating blood. Trephination is the term for this. If the nail is destroyed, a doctor will not apply this technique.

• If the blood collection fills more than 50% of the nail bed, the physician may eventually remove the nail and treat the nail matrix, which is the region at the base that generates new nails.

• The doctor might remove a broken or torn nail and fix the nail bed. If the nail bed matrix is compromised, the doctors may also extract all or a portion of the nail.

• Any incision to the nail bed is repaired with stitches; if possible, the nail is reattached to offer protection and assistance while the new nail grows.

• Doctors treat avulsions similarly, although occasionally, the nail is too seriously hurt to be put back on. A fake nail that the doctor may attach progressively moves forward as the real nail grows.

• An orthopedic surgeon might utilize reconstructive methods like grafting when an avulsion is more serious.

• Antibiotics may be necessary to treat nail bed damage in order to avoid infection. The doctor may also ask for an X-ray to look for any bone fractures and inquire about the patient's tetanus shot status.

• It could take 6–9 months to recover, depending on the extent of the damage.

Why Cutis Hospital for Fingertip and Nail Bed Injuries?

At Cutis Hospital, we have a multidisciplinary healthcare team consisting of medical officers, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, and others to offer a top-notch user experience. 

Sophisticated tools & technologies - We use cutting-edge tools and technologies, as well as the best health information systems to provide each patient with the best care possible.

Contemporary Operations Theatre - We have a state-of-the-art operating room that is well-equipped with all the necessary CT scans, MRI, 3D ultrasound, and Picture Achieving Communication System (PACS) equipment to ensure the best possible results.

Round-the-clock assistance - Emergency services are available around the clock and are of the highest caliber at Cutis Hospital.

Affordable rate - With your overall health as our first priority, we also take into account your wallet by providing our services at the best prices on the market and making sure that we have the support of the widest range of insurance partners.

To get the best possible patient care at the best rate, Cutis Hospital has you covered! 

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