advice for unusual finger injury?

[annasuave]

spoiler warning - graphic description of injury ahead.

anyone got any experience with something similar to this? i fumbled a razor today and managed to cut through my finger nail (right in the middle) and down into the flesh below. Its not so much a straight cut as is is an excision. i managed to cut a hole right in the nail and carve out an underlying chunk if flesh about the size of a large sunflower seed. less than half, but more than a quarter of the nail. the wound is quite deep - there's a tiny (and i do mean tiny) bit of fat showing. all my shots are up to date and i'm not worried about infection or anything,

my question is - is this going to heal on its own - or do i need to have the whole finger nail removed in order for it to grow back properly?

i've torn and ripped fingernails before, but have never heard of anyone managing to cut a hole out of the middle of one before. feeling a little queasy thinking about what this is going to look like when is scabs over.

[Peanut]

Ew!! I'd maybe go to a walk-in clinic and see what the doctor says. I'd be worried about under the nail getting all infected since there's a hole in it now. Or if it swells up then the only relief point will be the hole?! Lol. I'm getting a bit queasy thinking about it actually.

[Minnie]

My husband did this not too long ago. I had him do a warm saltwater soak a couple of times a day for a few days and kept it well wrapped. Healed up quite well. Fingernail is still intact. YMMV.

[Buff]

Get into a walk-in clinic or ER right away. You don't want to deal with an infection.

[jammies]

I don't know about you, but I'd visit a doctor and get a professional opinion. There is no substitute for someone who knows what they are doing looking at such an injury up close.

Also, ewwww!

[StormShadow]

Visiting a doctor is never a bad idea. The issue with fingertip injuries is often the build of of pressure under the finger nail due to blood clotting, swelling etc. This usually leads to a nurse poking a hole in your fingernail and blood shooting out almost comically but with a lot of pain beforehand. Id suggest heading to a walk-in or an urgent care center and get a doctors opinion. There isn't a lot they will do but they will check for infection and prescribe if necessary. There is an app and a website that will give you the rundown on wait times at various places. Id avoid the ER, they are busy enough.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Doctors a quacks.

First go to the pet store and get a bag of leaches. Put a leach on it daily for one week. then wrap with clean bandage. If infection and/or necroses appear go to a garbage bin and get a few maggots. The maggots will be easy to get as this is the time of year for them! Maggots are great for only eating the dead flesh! Yay! After a few weeks you'll be right as rain.

[Minnie]

You know, they still actually use maggots and leeches. Not often, but they are used. LOL

[Street Pharmacist]

Rub some 'tussin in there boy!

[normtwofinger]

I had this happen before. It was a while ago, but I think I just soaked it everyday in epson salts, and always used an antibiotic cream when bandaging. The nail continued to grow.

[Northendzone]

Ignore these pollyanna's who are telling you to go to the dr's now. Chances are you would have to wait several hrs in a waiting room full of sick people -not a great way to spend a long weekend.

Wait it out and see what happens. If it gets infected, chances are you won't have to wait long at the hospital

[Huntingwhale]

Get a girl to kiss it better

[CaptainCrunch]

Dump some whiskey in the wound, then do the manly thing and bite your lip while you stifle the scream. If you pass out your a sissy.

Then take some crazy glue. Dump it in the wound and pinch the wound shut. If you vomit your a sissy.

Then take the nail and staple it over the wound.

Then find a a wolverine and get it to lick the wound at least three times a day.

[Rudee]

Just keep it clean and it will heal fine. Doubt you need to go to the Doctor for it.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Dump some whiskey in the wound, then do the manly thing and bite your lip while you stifle the scream. If you pass out your a sissy.

Then take some crazy glue. Dump it in the wound and pinch the wound shut. If you vomit your a sissy.

Then take the nail and staple it over the wound.

Then find a a wolverine and get it to lick the wound at least three times a day.

You know what? Do this. This sounds best.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by Minnie

You know what? Do this. This sounds best.

That's only because GOD does all the work in my post. You NON-Sacrificial heathen.

Bless you.

* Dear god can I get a breathalyzer check before posting after midnight please? WTF was I thinking?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Ignore these pollyanna's who are telling you to go to the dr's now. Chances are you would have to wait several hrs in a waiting room full of sick people -not a great way to spend a long weekend.

Wait it out and see what happens. If it gets infected, chances are you won't have to wait long at the hospital

Haha, love that advice. Right now you'd have to wait forever to get seen, so go home and let the situation detriorate so you will be seen sooner when you go.

[Rudee]

I worked as a brick layer for a few years after I came out of high school. I could of wrote a book when it comes to smashing fingers and fingernails. As I said in my previous post, just keep the injured finger clean, and it will heal fine. Unless you smashed the nail good with a lot of force, it will be fine and will regrow over the injury.

[RogerWilco]

I would tell you to go see a doctor. But if this happend to me I most likely would not and just put some big dabs of neosporin on it and wrap it up for a few days.q

[Huntingwhale]

Post a picture please.