What is Nail Bed Injury

The nail bed is the soft tissue under a fingernail or toenail. The nail bed can be hurt (injured) in different ways. You may:

• Get bruising or bleeding under the nail.
• Get cuts in the nail or nail bed.
• Lose all or part of the nail.

After your nail is hurt or torn off, it can take many months to grow again. The nail may not grow back normally.

Follow these instructions at home:

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
• Keep your injury protected with bandages (dressings) or splints as told by your doctor.
• Keep any bandages clean and dry. Change or remove your bandages only as told by your doctor.
• For an injured toenail:
  • Try not to walk on your injured leg.
  • Wear an open-toed shoe when you walk.
  • Try not to let your leg hang down (dangle) when you are sitting or lying down.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, use it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• Medicine does not help your pain.
• You have any of these problems in the injured area:
  • More pain.
  • More leaking fluid (drainage).
  • More bleeding.
• You have redness, soreness, or swelling in the injured area.
• You have a fever and your symptoms get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You lose feeling (have numbness) in your finger or toe.
• Your toe or finger looks blue.

Summary

• The nail bed is the soft tissue under a fingernail or toenail. This area can get hurt.
• Sometimes, after a nail or nail bed is hurt (injured), the nail may not grow back normally.
• Keep the injured area clean and dry.
• Change or remove your bandages (dressings) only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, use it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.