Broken or cracked fingertip?

Question:

My mother mashed her finger between some large pieces of cast iron. The nail bed is deep purple, as well as the pad/tip of her finger. The entire end (from that last crease to the tip) is swollen quite a bit. It is still very painful and throbbing now, hours after mashing it. I'm wondering, is there even anything the doctor can do for it? Even if it is broken, it's the tip, so it's not like a split could be applied or anything. Can anything be done?

Answers:
try to immobilize that part of the finger with something stiff (half of a tongue depressor or pencil) and tape around it. keep this own for a few days.. the nail might come off on its own and your mom will feel the throbbing for a few days. tell your mom to take motrin (as directed) to decrease the swelling for a few days. if this doesn't help, then you should go see a doc to have x-rays done..but to be honest, the treatment will be the same as i told you...immobilization and motrin...make sure that she takes out the pencil or whatever you will use out and see if she is getting any improvements...good luck!

You are describing a crush injury with a possible fracture and a subungual haematoma (meaning disruption of the nail bed with blood sealed in between nail bed and nail).
these are very painful..!!

1. 1st thing is to encourage your mother to elevate the hand above her heart to reduce the swelling and throbbing.
2. Take some simple analgesia - Acetaminophen + over the counter non steroidal (if she has no allergies or contra indications to these).
3. Consider seeing a Nurse Practitioner or Doctor - they can order an xray if necessary and also trephine the nail (meaning puncture through the nail to release the blood). This has an instant effect in reducing pain. If the nail bed is totally obscured by blood the nail will almost certainly fall off eventually. Again depending on how bad it is your health professional may advise you to have the nail removed there and then and the nail bed repaired.. Yes they use local anaesthesia..!!

Good luck !

I've heard you can tr-affine (said "traff ine") the nail bed. That is release the blood by making a hole in the nail. That will relieve the pressure but best not to do it yourself but see a doctor who would know more.

Broken or cracked fingertip?

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