Toenail Injuries

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KEY POINTS

• Common toenail injuries include bleeding under the toenail and tearing off part or all of the toenail.
• Treatment may include draining blood underneath the nail, taping a torn nail, or removing a severely damaged toenail.

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What is a toenail injury?

Common toenail injuries include bleeding under the toenail and tearing off part or all of the toenail.

What is the cause?

Bleeding under the toenail is caused by the nail separating from the nail bed. This is more common if you wear tight shoes or frequently do sports such as tennis, running, or skiing, that cause your toenails to hit the front of your shoe when you stop suddenly.

Other toenail injuries may be caused by:

• Toenails that are torn after catching on something
• A heavy object striking the toenail

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Bleeding or bruising under the nail
• A partially or completely torn toenail

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you.

How is it treated?

If the blood underneath the nail is causing a lot of pain your healthcare provider may drain the blood.

A partially torn nail is usually taped down until a new nail starts to grow. Then the torn part of the nail is trimmed away.

A nail that is severely damaged may need to be removed by your healthcare provider.

How can I take care of myself?

Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. In addition:

• Take nonprescription pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, you should not take these medicines for more than 10 days.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age.
  • Acetaminophen may cause liver damage or other problems. Unless recommended by your provider, don't take more than 3000 milligrams (mg) in 24 hours. To make sure you don’t take too much, check other medicines you take to see if they also contain acetaminophen. Ask your provider if you need to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.

Ask your provider:

• How long it will take to recover
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them

Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup. Keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.

How can I help prevent a toenail injury?

Wear proper fitting shoes. Be sure to keep your toenails trimmed.