You’ve stuck your finger in the door, you’ve had a heavy object hit your foot, or you’re wearing shoes that are too small, and this has resulted in a toenail bruise. Blue or black in color, this subungual hematoma can be impressive to see, but is not dangerous. To relieve any pain caused by the blood effusion, the blood must be drained. Find out what are the right actions to take in the event of a hematoma under the nail.
1. Hematoma under the nail: what is it?
A hematoma under the nail gives it a blue color. The cause is repeated trauma (running, wearing shoes that are too small or too narrow, etc.), impact on the nail (hammer blow, hand stuck in a door, weight placed on the foot, fracture of the foot, etc.) . As a result of this trauma, your nail will detach slightly and cause capillary vessel rupture, inform the Pomedic podiatry clinics. Hence this flow of blood which, when stagnating, takes on a blue or even black tint. This hematoma can be very insensitive, or on the contrary very painful. Indeed, due to the pressure induced by the hematoma, you may feel throbbing pain.
If only a small part of the nail is affected and you do not suffer, then you just have to wait for the nail to completely grow back for it to disappear. As the nail grows on average one millimeter per month, this can take several months. If, on the other hand, the subungual hematoma is painful, then the blood must be evacuated to release the pressure and immediately ease the pain. Here are the right actions to know if you have a hematoma under your nail.
Avoid wearing shoes that are too small or too narrow if you have a hematoma under the nail
To avoid the formation of a hematoma under the nail, you should avoid wearing shoes that are too narrow and not adapted to the length and width of your feet. This type of shoe should also be avoided once the subungual hematoma appears. Indeed, the compression of the foot in the shoe will increase the pressure on the nail, and therefore the pain.
2. Evacuate the hematoma with a paper clip
It is the pressure under the nail, due to the presence of blood, which can cause shooting pain. Relieving the pain therefore requires evacuation of the blood, which will reduce the pressure exerted under the nail. This is something you can do yourself, provided you take a few precautions. specifies Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, on the Allo Docteurs website. First of all, unfold a paperclip and then heat one of the ends with a flame. When the tip of the paper clip becomes incandescent, place it on the nail, in the middle of the hematoma, and gently pierce the nail. This action is not painful, because the nail is not innervated. Then press lightly on the nail, once the hole has formed, to allow the blood to drain. The pain then goes away instantly. Once the hematoma has resolved, disinfect your nail and cover it with a sterile dressing. It is still recommended that you contact a healthcare professional to avoid any further injury.
Sources
• Fingernail and Toenail Trauma, The MSD Manual — Consumer Version, December 2021
• Subungual hematoma or blue nail, Pomedic, podiatry clinics
• What to do in case of hematoma under the nail, Allo Docteurs, July 5, 2023
• Nail and fingertip trauma, Health Insurance, August 1, 2022
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