Whenever there is pain to the toe, be it from stubbing the toe, or infection, the pain is caused by damage to soft tissue or bone, including the nail. Due to the clear colour of the nail, it is very easy to see some of the effects of such an injury. Bruising, bleeding, and even lifting of the nail can occur due to the damage it sustains.
Injury to the nail can result in many other conditions. Injury can disturb the nail root, causing temporary or permanent damage, and creating the change in the nail that grows forth from it. Thick, curled, subsequently fungal, or brittle nails are all varieties of the different outcomes that can occur from an injury.
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Symptoms
Symptoms will vary based on the type of injury and how it damaged the nail or nail root. If it was a physically acute injury, such as from a sport, it will often be severe in nature, with bleeding present under the nail (hematoma), or part of the nail falling off (onycholysis). Blood will not have the usual red colour, but appear black or brown underneath the nail as it dries out.
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Causes
Injury to the nail is most often mechanical in nature, where an object outside the body comes into forceful contact with the nail. This might be stubbing the toe on a table, sports injuries, or even just the buildup of stress from wearing tight or short shoes over the years. Other causes may be more microscopic in nature, where infections can cause the nail to be damaged at a more cellular level. Changes within the body, such as swelling from an autoimmune disease can put pressure on the root too, causing the matrix to mutate.
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Treatment
Treatment for such nail injuries are primarily healed with time. Even when the bones of the toe are fractured, they are often left alone. Not to say that there is nothing to do, we are still able to immobilize the toe or cushion it with dressings to protect it from further damage when the injury is still fresh and the nail is tender. When the nail has lifted, it is best to remove as much of the lifted nail as possible, as it is unlikely to reattach. Any loose nail provides a haven for fungus to grow, as it prefers dark and moist environments that the openings of loose nails create. The same will go for any discolouration or changes in shape to the nail. If the injury just occurred and more than 25% of the nail is discolored, it is wise to have it addressed by a Registered Chiropodist who can drain it or remove the nail if necessary to prevent infection. If it is an older injury, is best to let it grow out as much as possible, which can be as long as a year for an entirely new nail to grow.
