Nail Injury Treatment Questions and Answers

The length of time it takes for a nail injury to heal depends on several different factors, including whether the nail broke off entirely or partially, if the nail bed is damaged, and how severe the injury is!

For minor nail injuries that do not require medical attention, wherein the nail is still attached to the nail bed and leaves the nail bed undamaged, a few days should suffice for healing. However, if the nail falls off, is partially separated from the nail bed, or the nail bed is damaged, it will take significantly longer. It takes about seven to 10 days for a nail bed to heal itself after a nail has fallen off and around three to six months for the fingernail to grow back, or 12 to 18 months for a toenail.

If you have experienced a nail avulsion, in which the nail and nail bed partially separate from the rest of the finger, it should heal within a few weeks. If the bone in your toe or finger is broken, it will take about four weeks to heal.

For a subungual hematoma, in which blood is trapped between the nail and nail bed, it should completely heal within two to three months for a fingernail and within nine months for a toenail.

Smashed fingernails often result in a subungual hematoma, as blood from burst blood vessels leak into the nail bed and gets trapped between the nail and nail bed. The resulting pressure from the trapped blood can cause pain that ranges from mild to extreme. If the pain and pressure are too much to handle, a doctor can perform a nail trephination procedure. During a nail trephination procedure, a tiny hole is created in the nail through which a needle will be inserted to drain the blood and fluid. Your doctor will administer pain relief medicine to minimize any discomfort experienced during the procedure. If the blood covers over half of the nail, it will likely need to be removed for stitches. An X-ray may also be conducted to check for any fractures to the finger, in which case your doctor will apply a splint to let it heal correctly.

Damaged toenails are often treated in the same way as damaged fingernails. In some cases, the only treatment option is to let the new nail grow in and dress the exposed nail bed until it has sufficiently healed. Ultimately, treatment for a damaged toenail will depend on the specific injury or damage caused to the nail. If you have questions about our toenail treatment options at Reddy Urgent Care, feel free to call us.

For excellent nail injury treatment in downtown Long Beach, CA, we invite you to Reddy Urgent Care! Come to see one of our board-certified physicians for a walk-in appointment at 123 Atlantic Ave in Long Beach, CA, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM from Monday to Friday or on the weekend from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.