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Children's health

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Original poster

I accidentally closed a door on DS's hand on xmas day and his WHOLE fingernail tore right off, I still feel awful about it :o(

17 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 26/12/2009 21:13

We were at the in laws for Xmas dinner and after I went to the loo I was chatting to DS(2.2 years old) and went to close the bathroom door. I remember thinking 'This door won't shut properly' then I looked down and saw that DS had his finger trapped!!!

He did that silent scream thing for literally a minute and then let out the most almighty cry, I then looked down at his finger expecting to see maybe some redness but his whole nail was ripped off and I felt so sick with worry, pain for him and I felt so utterly, utterly guilty. I was crying too and it took about an hour to calm him down. SIL called NHS 24 as we didn't know what to do- in the end we put some savlon on it and a sterile dressing and thankfully by the end of the night he was OK although he keeps saying 'no' when he looks at his finger.

Today I managed to change the dressing and I've not put anything on it tonight so it can breathe. It looks awful though. I'm taking him to the GP's when they reopen but I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar and how did you treat it? Did the nail come back?

OP posts:

HopingForChristmasSexOnFire · 26/12/2009 21:16

oh, ilikeyoursleeves, I feel for you. I;ve done this by accident on DS's toe. You feel like the worst person in the world. The jury is still out on DS's toenail, but I did take him to GP who said to watch for it ingrowing. Not sure how a fingernail would be tho. I hope someone else will come along to advise you.

FluffyForLifeNotJustForXmas · 26/12/2009 21:17

poor mite. I'd have taken him off to the minor injury unit/A&E, I trained as a paeds nurse and have seen a few operations on children who have done this as the nail bed has been damaged and needed a repair.

I've done this myself, I shut my thumb in a car door, it did grow back. I really do suggest that you get this looked at in A&E though.

teabagtea · 26/12/2009 21:19

When my DD was 11 months the front door blew shut on her hands by accident. A horrid matter of timing as 2 seconds later and it wouldn't have happened. She had to have a GA to have 2 fingers sewn up, has scars to this day and the nails fell off. However, the nails have grown back fine. I still feel awful though and can't bear it when outside doors are left open and unhooked near to little ones. I feel for you !

alypaly · 26/12/2009 23:41

you should take him to A and E as it is classed as a crush injury and they can xray the tiny bones in the finger tip.
He must have been in agony with whole nail ripped off...its a wonder he didnt scream the house down. I would take him just to have all the nail bed checked and probably some anti biotics.

FluffyForLifeNotJustForXmas · 27/12/2009 00:38

Some childrens nurofen for the pain will help

lulalullabye · 27/12/2009 02:15

Take him to A&E as alypaly said it is a crush inj. They will need to xray as if there is bone involvement he will need antibiotics. Also they can put a proper dressing on it as it does need to have the nail bed dressed with a parafin based dressing. Don't leave it open !

lowrib · 27/12/2009 03:00

It's Sunday tomorrow, please don't wait another day, he needs to be seen a.s.a.p. Take him to A&E. The GP will probably only send yo to the hospital anyway. I know it's boring and could be a long wait, but you'll really kick yourself later if the injury is worsened because you delayed getting it seen to.

You need to act, now.

alypaly · 27/12/2009 10:19

also they need to check incase finger tip nerves are damaged in case of loss of sensation.please go

lizardqueenie · 27/12/2009 10:59

hello, hope that your lo is okay.

just thought i'd offer some support - i did this when i was 6 shutting my thumb in a fire door at school. sorry if this sounds gross nail was still just hanging in there until my dad decided it would have to go- yes counted 1,2,3 then whipped it off! my nail grew back after a while but just make sure u keep its kept clean.

did a similar thing when i was 21 and was wearing nail extensions- dropped a fire extinguisher on it (dont ask, but alcohol was involved). I went to minor injuries just because i needed someone else to sort it out.

Not sure what they would do for a fractured fingertip..can he wiggle his finger?

Best of luck.

hoxtonchick · 27/12/2009 11:13

yes, a and e, i took ds when he tore his finger nail off in the playground, & they said it was the right thing to do, checked him over & had us back a couple of days later just to make sure.

IlanaK · 27/12/2009 11:37

My ds1 did this to ds3 when he was a toddler. He did need the GP in the end as it got infected. Once it healed though the nail grew back and you would never know now to look at it 6 months later.

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 28/12/2009 21:54

Hi all, thanks for the replies. Just wanted to update and say that I took DS to A&E today and he is fine. They did an Xray and no broken bones were found. They gave him antibiotics just in case it gets infected but they said it looked OK although they said there is only a 50/50 chance the nail will grow back

My poor wee boy

OP posts:

littledawleybaubles · 28/12/2009 21:59

OMG your story just made me shudder!!

"and after I went to the loo I was chatting to DS(2.2 years old) and went to close the bathroom door. I remember thinking 'This door won't shut properly' then I looked down and saw that DS had his finger trapped!!!"

Only differences; DS was 3.2 and on the loo, DD was outside when I shut the door and I took off the whole of the top of her finger!! It was just hanging on by a thread. Cue lots of blood, a trip to A&E and plastic surgery to re-attach.

Glad your LO is okay - hope you are too, I was a wreck!

LadyOfTheFlowers · 28/12/2009 22:07

Poor Ds and poor you.

You feel bloody awful when you accidently hurt them.

DH managed to get the complete fleshy end of his finger chopped off in the hinge side of a door when hewas little - he too was in so much pain he didn't make any noise but screamed silently.
The end was hanging off and it was stitched back on, slightly twisted round. It is now wonky but his nail dropped off and grew back fine.

I once had DS1 in a baby walker and for some reason didn't realise he was in the doorway and wanted me to lift him out - he put his arms up to be lifted so I bent my knees then lifted him right up over my head to make him laugh, slamming the top of his head into the bloody door frame.
He went a bit funny, rushed to A&E, was convinced I had fractured his skull or something and would be going to jail.

He was fine.

The guilt will pass, but it is really, really awful.

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 28/12/2009 22:14

Thanks for the sympathies, yes I was a wreck, we were both in tears and I just felt truly awful because it was my fault! I am just so glad he is OK and no little bones were broken.

Sob sob

OP posts:

neveronamonday · 29/12/2009 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

alypaly · 29/12/2009 18:22

i remember Ds1 having his fingers trapped in the front door. not in the open edge but the hinge edge...OMG its making me cringe to remember the blood curdling scream.
I opened the back door, not knowing that he was at the front door. the wind blew through the house and slammed the door on his fingers. I didnt need a siren to get me to the hospital.i felt sick. i can still remember the scream.

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