Guide To The Causes And Symptoms Of A Subungual Hematoma

February 21, 2024

Subungual hematoma is when there is bruising or bleeding under a nail. It typically happens when the nail is damaged because of an injury and the blood vessels beneath the nail bed are harmed. This can happen to either fingernails or toenails. Some common ways for a subungual hematoma to happen is if individuals slam a finger in a door or stub a toe on a bed frame. Furthermore, it can happen when they are not wearing the right size shoes when engaging in physical activity, especially those that require stop-and-start actions. It is important for individuals to take care of their feet, and subsequently their toes because they can cause damage to the nail beds. Get to know the full details on the causes and symptoms of a subungual hematoma now.

Throbbing Pain Around Affected Nail

If individuals damage the blood vessels under the nail, their finger or toe will probably have a throbbing pain around the affected nail. The throbbing feels like a heartbeat. The body is trying to deal with the pain and trauma to the nail triggers the body to send cells to the area to help it heal. Sometimes throbbing pain makes it very difficult for individuals to use the finger or toe the nail is on. Patients may need some down time to give the body a chance to do its job. As the injury starts to heal, the throbbing will dissipate, and individuals will start to feel better. But patients should be prepared to use ice and cold packs to help with an acute injury. The cold pack will reduce the blood flow to the area and temporarily reduce nerve agitation.

Tenderness And Swelling

If individuals injure a nail, they will definitely experience tenderness and swelling. Some of this contributes to the throbbing pain they will be feeling. Until the body repairs the damaged area, it will hurt and the individual may not be able to use it. Swelling will be most significant in the early stages, especially very soon after the injury occurs. This is because the body is sending extra blood and cells to heal the injury. Using cold packs will help reduce the swelling by reducing blood flow to the area. When the swelling goes down, the area will become less tender. This is because a swollen area is an area engorged with blood and pushes on the skin to such a point that it cannot stretch any further. When the skin gets pulled so tight, it can cause a lot of discomfort. Additionally, if individuals have a large bruise and a lot of blood pooling under the nail, they may need a doctor to put a hole in the nail to relieve the pressure and some of the blood.

Dark Discoloration Under Affected Nail

Because the blood vessels are damaged during the injury, blood will pool in the affected area. This will cause a dark discoloration under the affected nail. The discoloration can be several shades of purple, red, even black and will probably change over time as the nail bed heals. Even after the body heals the injury, the nail may still be discolored. Many times, patients have to wait until the nail grows out and they can cut it off. Depending on how fast their nails grow, this can potentially take a long time. Thankfully, if individuals injured a toenail, they might be able to hide the bruising in their shoes. Some patients might even take the steps of getting their fingernails painted if one becomes injured and has discoloration.

Crush Injury To Blood Vessels Causing Bruising

A crush injury is an injury that happens when the pressure of a heavy object is put on a body part. This kind of injury is possible even when talking about fingers and toes, thus causing damage to the blood vessels under the fingernail. This will result in bruising under the nail and trauma to the vessels underneath and often a subungual hematoma. Unfortunately, along with the damage to the nail bed, the injury can include broken bones or dislocation. If a crush injury is suspected, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. The blood vessels and blood flow to the area need to be restored and fixed for the patient to fully recover.

Tuft Fracture To The Bone

A tuft fracture to the bone is an open fracture involving the top of the finger and the nail bed. It involves having a broken fingertip, called the tuft, and a broken nail. If individuals have this kind of injury, they will need the nail bed to be sutured to fix the break. Then, patients will need a splint to allow the bone to heal. This kind of injury can result in the bone being broken in several places and will take some time to heal. Even though it might not seem like that big of an injury, a tuft fracture can be painful and if it is not fixed can result in deformity and lack of function. Therefore, it is important to get treatment right away, including putting ice on it right away and getting to a hospital.

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