Trivial but icky toenail injury - what to do?

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

On the way back from holiday at the weekend, DH managed to drop a heavy suitcase onto the edge of my big toenail (accident obviously, but I'm holding him responsible! ) which shattered. I lost nearly a centimetre of nail, which luckily broke off straight across. About half of this was under the line of the nailbed, so I now have a bit of raw nailbed exposed. It is as oozy and painful as you would expect.

I washed it and whacked on some germolene and a plaster when it was done, and have since replaced the plaster and ointment. Doesn't seem to be infected. What do I do with it, though? I know that wounds heal better when they're kept wet, but does that apply to nailbeds? How long is it going to take for the toenail to grow back over the icky part? Should I let it get air at all? (Am worried about infecting it, and am pregnant too, so an infection is the last thing I want really.)

I'd keep it covered for a bit - it will be too sore otherwise. In terms of growing back it may take a little while, - I did something similar to my little toe in July, it has not quite fully grown back yet. Make your DH wait on your hand and foot until it's healed

I would go to the nurse at your GP surgery.
If it's infected/serious then he/she might be able to dress it with Mepitel (an expensive non-sticky dressing) which should protect it from bumps and infection.
If they won't, then they might advise you to go to A&E for dressings (ridiculous I know)or to have the remaining bit of nail pulled out.

Any damage to the nail bed might affect the new growing nail permanently.

I've done both my big toe nails. Both had to be pulled out in A&E under a local. Apparently it sounded like a jam jar lid popping off.