Lesions such as an extracted nail may require emergency surgery. It is, therefore, important to know what to do if you are suffering from an extracted or crushed nail. 

Extracted nail: the emergency procedure

Wedging you foot under a door, walking barefoot or wearing the wrong shoes can all lead to an extracted nail. If this occurs, it is important to act quickly to treat the wound. The first thing to do is put the toe in cold water. If the nail is partially torn or dangling, do not tear it off. If the nail has been completely torn off, it is important to keep it in a clean cloth and to not to throw it away. You must then go quickly to the emergency room for special care or surgery. This is also the case if you have a crushed nail or a nail that is bent back.

Take good care of a bent, crushed or extracted nail

Once the extracted nail has come off do not leave your toe exposed for too long, as you run the risk of inflammation of the underlying bone and the wound will take even longer to heal. The nail may not grow back correctly and will be unsightly and painful. However, if the nail is preserved, it can be replaced. If there is only partial damage to your extracted, bent or crushed nail, it is possible to stitch the nail back on. If you still have the extracted nail, it is possible to replace it. This requires removing the damaged parts, stitching up the tissue if necessary, and cutting the nail to size. It will be held in place with two threads for ten days.