nail injury

[Tooodlepip]

Hi

Does anyone know what I should do with my four year old, he had an accident today and half his nail came off, I wasnt with him it was while he was in someone elses care. I have put some germolene on and plasters, but I don't know whether I am suppose to go to the hospital or not, or is there a better way to dress it. It looks really gross and I am worried about infection.

I would appreciate any advice about this. Thank you

is it the whole length of the nail?
My dd (aged 5) trapped her finger in the car door last year and ripped the nail from the nail bed although it was hanging by a little flap. We went to a&e and they put it back and stitched the skin over in order to help the nail bed stay active and not grow a deformed nail. They also bandaged it and we had to have it redressed a couple of times by the gp nurse.
It bled a LOT so it was clean

he still has half a nail, half is ripped from the nail bed, half is still there. Do you think it will just grow up the way??

I just know the doctor said that replacing the nail would help the nail bed stay unscarred and the new nail grow straight. I know 12 months later my dd's nail is perfect looking and I am sure it is because they fixed it back even though the old nail did fall off. Apparently the nail bed can close up or scar causing deformity.

Hope that helps - probably worth getting it checked just for peace of mind.

My DS's nail was pulled out totally when his finger got trapped in a door, and we took him to A&E on the advice of NHS Direct. They advised this even before we realised the nail had come off (was difficult to tell initially, with all the blood) as his finger needed to be x-rayed to check for damage (it was fine, thank goodness). The hospital took it really seriously, and followed up with a couple of appointments with a hand specialist plastic surgeon, in case the nail didn't grow back properly (or at all). They also asked if we had the nail, for the same reasons as whyme2 said, but we didn't. Fortunately, his nail grew back perfectly - no damage at all.

I know your DS hasn't lost the whole nail, so it's not quite the same as my son, but I agree with whyme2 that there's no harm in getting it checked, especially if his finger was squashed too. Hope it's not hurting your DS too much.

As the others have said a minor injuries unit will sort it out. If there is any suggestion of a crush injury, as in car door, it will need an xray anyway as broken bones under wounds are not good.