Bad splinter stuck under thumbnail

[AngelDog]

2.7 y.o. DS got a nasty big splinter stuck under his thumbnail yesterday. We went to A&E, who tried to yank it out with tweezers but only a bit came out as it was firmly stuck and the wood was disintegrating a bit. It was pretty traumatic as they were trying to lift his nail a bit, and doing it without any real pain relief.

He's got it slathered in magnesium sulphate paste to try to draw it out, although there's no sign of it moving so far. If it doesn't come out on its own (which I doubt it will), we have to go back to the A&E clinic on Wednesday so they can decide what to do about it.

The consultant we saw said they wouldn't try just taking it out without any pain relief again, but I doubt we'll see the same woman. TBH they didn't really know what they were doing, and admitted that the tweezers they had weren't really suitable for the job.

I have told DS that there won't be a repeat of yesterday. It was horrible for him, and for me having to hold him down - especially since it didn't actually work.

Does anyone have any experiences, or know how this kind of thing 'should' be dealt with?

Does it matter if the splinter just stays there?

I had the same thing once and like your ds had it covered in magnesium paste covered with a a light bandage.iIf i remember rightly it came out after a couple of days.Oh the relief ! Hope It does the same for your ds.its such a painful thing and sods law you keep knocking the sore bit !

My DD had a splinter under her nail. Minor injuries nurse said to leave it to grow out and just watch for infection. If signs of infection, go to GP for antibiotics. She said only alternative was to cut the nail which she didn't want to do. Came out after a week or two - no infection - no problems.

The body does try to expel the object eventually. It ought to build up a little well of plasma behind the splinter that will eventually propel it outwards. As others have said, be aware of signs of infection though. My mother got a piece of spaghetti caught under her thumb nail at a time that she was really run down and she had to have the nail removed eventually to let the infection out. I'm sure your DS is in better shape than she was at the time.

Hope it comes out of its own accord.

Thanks all. It's still there and bless him, he's not using his left hand at all, but is being really adaptable in finding alternative ways to do things e.g. taking Duplo bricks apart with his teeth!