The : The "black" under the nail plate is likely blood . Do not try to get it out, yourself it will grow out with the nail. However the prsence of blood under the nail could mean you have a fracture so yes you should be evaluated. If there is a nondisplaced fracture and the nail plate is intact then there is little need to "repair" anything, but if the fracture is displaced or if there is communication from the injury to the fracture then you may need additional care if it has been a few days and pain is controlled do not let anyone try to drain the nail ( especially if there is a fracture).
Answered 10/3/2016
5.3k views
As : As dr. Wint notes, the dark color under the nail is like a bruise. When the nailbed (the area under the hard nail) gets injured, blood gets trapped under the nail. Depending on the amount of bleeding, the area may be large and start to elevate the nail. A very large area will cause the nail to fall off. There can be a broken bone (fracture is the same thing) under the nail. Most of these do not need treatment and heal well, even if they look exploded (comminuted), but should at least be x-rayed. If the fracture is big enough to involve the joint or distorts the bone too much (displaced), it may need further care, such as splinting or surgery. A particularly painful blood collection, called a subungal hematoma, is relatively common after a crush injury such as this. Many people will drain them to relieve the pressure and pain by burning a small hole in the fingernail. In the case of a broken bone, though, this increased the risk of infection, though the risk is still relatively small. There is also discussion about how much bruising to accept before repairing the nailbed. Some people argue that if the bruise is more than half the nail, it should be removed and the nailbed repaired. I disagree. I think the nail is the best "splint" for the nailbed and is best left in place to help mold the healing tissue.
Answered 10/3/2016
5.3k views
For : For sure... At least to get an x-ray to make sure nothing else needs to be done...
Answered 1/7/2019
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