QuestionI recently slammed my nail in a heavy hotel door. Now the bottom half of my nail is discolored and blood-filled. Will I lose this nail and when? Or is there anything I can have done medically to save the nail (it has been about 2 weeks since the injury)?
AnswerThis is called a subungual hematoma, a bruise underneath the nail. Usually, we try to relieve the pressure under the nail by putting a small hole in the nail to let the blood out. This prevents the blood under pressure pushing the nail up and losing the nail. However, if you wait, the nail gets separated, then you will lose the nail. At this point, I would still drill the nail,to see if there is any fluid that needs to come out. Use a paperclip and a lighter....get the end of the paper clip hot, and burn a hole in the nail,right in the center of the blood spot. Once the blood comes out,then the pressure is relieved. However, it makes me nervous, because that should be done early,not after 2 weeks.
Hope this helps....
