If your injury has cut off a large part of your fingertip, your surgeon may consider the pros and cons of reattaching the amputated part. But hand surgeons have long known that a cut-off fingertip can regain much of the normal feel, shape, and appearance. I cut my finger pretty good the other night. Your doctor will also want to know if you have experienced a previous injury to the affected hand. Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2010. Fingertip injuries can occur in accidents at home, work, or play. How to care for the tip of your finger or toe: If you have the cut-off tip, clean it with water. Pictures are not allowed at this point. Smashing your finger in a door, hitting it with a hammer or other heavy object, or cutting it with a knife or other sharp object can cause a nail injury. Participated in the Woodworking Challenge. The best thing I have discovered is super glue, I disinfect and apply a couple layers of super glue and I'm good to go! The most likely cause is a trauma to your nail, such as accidentally slamming a door on your finger. I took off approximately 1/4 of the top right portion of my fingernail and the flesh underneath, which remained behind on my knife. I was cutting cheese with an extremely sharp knife and it slipped! One thing that stopped the bleeding almost instantly was turmeric. Cut your nails in a straight line so that they don’t bend too much. For some people — especially children — that’s also true of fingertips: Cut them off and they may well come back. It’s easy to get all nails to a standard length: “Look at all ten nails and pick out the shortest, or that with the smallest amount of ‘white’ at the tip,” says Lippmann. Your doctor will apply a bulky dressing to protect the area while it heals. Her co-worker was able to take her to the hospital to get it treated. Is the injured finger on your dominant hand? Rinse your finger lightly with water or a sterile saline solution. Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditioning Program. What a freak accident. It's ok to be sad about this. But absolutely not the whole thing. Warnings I was peeling potatoes and went to fast and cut the index finger nail off. Use a nail trimmer to clip the nail tips down to the length of your real nails. The goal here is to remove the "free edges" of your nails: the opaque, off-white crescents that grow at the tips of your nails. Replantation. Let them clean 'er off. The doctor may have put stitches in your finger. In this first step you'll want to wrap your finger and hold it above you're head like you've been taught to do. After your injury heals, mild to severe pain and sensitivity to cold may continue for up to a year or may even be permanent. They'll shoot you with Lidocaine in your thumb. Take another picture. In some cases, the flap is not fully removed from the donor area. Both nails and toe tips regrow thanks to special cells found under the base of each nail… It should only be a few seconds before curiosity sets in and you peel the wrap off to have a look. In general, for a fingertip injury to grow back, the injury must occur beyond where the nail starts, and some deformity of the tip of the finger will generally persist. fingernail or toenail can be injured by a blow to the nail or by closing the finger or toe in a door or drawer Your doctor will consider many things when determining whether to reattach your child's amputated fingertip, including: In many cases, surgery can return a large degree of feeling and function to a fingertip injury. Take your paper towel wrap off again and watch the faces of the strangers around you. Bandaged it kept it clean and six days later the wound has almost closed. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic and/or give you a tetanus shot to prevent infection. They may also suggest additional therapies to help promote healing and function. At this point you will want to photograph your injury, otherwise you'll be met with 'no pics-didn't happen' from your friends. This is the right page for you, keep reading. Like a between medium and small chunk. This will reduce your risk for infection. These habits can damage the nail bed. A cut finger injury is a medical emergency if: The cut reveals deep layers of skin, subcutaneous fat, or bone. He or she may recommend that you wear a splint to protect the area while it heals. Larger tissue injury. Fingertip amputation is a common injury. The doctor may even go so far as to block your field of view with his/her arm. from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This is called "replantation." To start with, you can get a good idea of how great these injuries usually heal by looking at this video of the healing of the fingertip … (Left) Wounds made along the green lines will probably heal on their own. 30+ years ago I discovered that trying to saw a kerf into the end of an axe handle with a bow saw while holding the axe handle barehanded is a bad idea. Your fingertips are rich with nerves and are extremely sensitive. Your friends will direct you to the closest bus that will take you to the closest hospital. Reproduced from Frassler PR: Fingertip Injuries: Evaluation and Treatment. You may need to see a hand surgeon for more treatment. Fingertip amputations: part of your fingertip was cut off, but the last joint of your finger (the one next to the nail) is still there. About OrthoInfo Editorial Board  Our Contributors   Our Subspecialty Partners  Contact Us, Privacy Policy  Terms & Conditions   Linking Policy   AAOS Newsroom  Find an Orthopaedist. To prevent nail damage, don't: Bite your fingernails or pick at your cuticles. Treatment depends on how much skin, tissue, bone, and nail were damaged and how much of your finger or thumb was cut off. Cut your fingernails. Luckily it was only about 8 puncture wounds. He or she will want to know if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes, if you smoke, or if you take any medications. An injury like that is what my cousin actually dealt with last night at her job. After 48 hours, range-of-motion finger exercises may be started to avoid stiffness. This really cheered me up thanks. The tip could not be found, A week ago I was being stupid and accidentally folded a pocket knife on the tip of my finger, it cut through the middle of the nail, and straight through like 1/3 the width of my finger. He or she will irrigate, or wash out, your wound with a saline solution to see it more clearly and to reduce the risk of infection. When a kid lops off a fingertip with a cleaver or car door, there's a chance the end of the digit will grow back. This is called healing by secondary intention. Wash the wound well with soap and water after you stop the bleeding. To reduce swelling after the bleeding is stopped, soak the finger in cold water for about 10 minutes. Even nail scissors are a good option if you are experienced in using them. Except when using power tools. The fingerprint will be gone, and the tip may look a bit strange. on Introduction. "Do or do not, there is no try," the doctor will tell you with a chuckle. As your nail starts to grow back, keep the edge filed to prevent another injury. If your fingertip wound is small and not deep enough to expose bone, it may heal on its own. Explain to the bus driver what you have done and calmly take a seat near the front. Doctors treat fingertip amputations somewhat differently in children younger than 6 years of age. Without prompt and proper treatment, a fingertip injury can cause problems with hand function, and may even result in permanent deformity or disability. Complete healing usually takes from 2 to 4 weeks, although stiffness and hypersensitivity may remain longer, depending on the severity of the injury. I cut the tip off mine with a sharp stanley knife. Cut the nails almost completely straight across, and round them a little at the corners to keep the nails strong. Reply They may be upset that you are assessing your injury in such a public place. You might rip live tissue along with the hangnail. Tips. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate one in your area through the AAOS Find an Orthopaedist program on this website. I actually chiseled a chunk of nail off and did what I recommended. I was trying to close my (sharp) pocket knife and my finger got in the way. Your doctor will talk with you about your medical history and the circumstances of your injury. 4 years ago, scars are a indication of learning so if you get hurt you learn lol trust me I have a few on the first of this year a lost the tip of the side of my left thumb to a drill press not properly clamped one of my many things of learning, Just did this after i cut it while cutting an onion now to go finish. Lol so good. Sitting here cleaning up blood and laughing because of this article. Your uninjured fingers will be left free to exercise. (Right) Wounds made along blue lines will probably need some sort of surgery to heal. 3 years ago. If this is the case with your injury, your doctor may pierce your fingernail to relieve the pressure. To ensure the best outcome, it is important to have your doctor examine your finger or thumb after an injury. Common donor areas are the injured finger itself, a non-injured finger, and the palm of the hand. The appropriate reaction is, "Uh...yeah. The nail bed and the surrounding skin will have to be sewn up, often with several different types of sutures . These therapies may include: AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. An amputation can result from slamming your finger in a car door or catching your ring on a hook or nail. Reply Poston says you should use your personal nail clippers and "cut your nails so they are even with the ends of your fingers or toes." If your fingertip wound is large and open, there may not be enough remaining skin to heal and cover the open area. Even a minor cut alongside your fingernail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection. Trim the nail tip down to your real nails. After cleaning it, but before stitches/x-ray they will re-wrap your finger. Neuroma, or painful nerve regeneration following the injury, Electrical stimulation of the nerves in the hand, Special compression wrappings to control swelling, Activities to improve fine motor skills such as pinching and grasping. This is especially possible in children younger than 2 years of age. These needle pokes will hurt more than the flap of your thumb does. Pull it tight to cut off the blood flow to the finger. He or she may also apply a splint to help support your hand. All rights reserved. Gently clean the amputated part with water or, if possible, with sterile saline solution. I just put a million band aids on it and went on with my day. The doctor may say, "Sweetie, don't get your hopes up. When to See a Health Care Provider. Your doctor will discuss each of the risks with you and will take specific measures to help avoid potential complications. Clean the injury, if possible, and cover it with a lightly compressive sterile dressing to minimize bleeding and protect the injured finger. Shortening the bone slightly usually does not hurt your ability to use your hand. A skin graft may be used to cover the donor area and to help it heal. In this first step you'll want to wrap your finger and hold it above you're head like you've been taught to do. The next day, her boss let her go even though he knew what happened. Try not to cut into your actual nails so that you don’t damage them. Instructable to be continued. If you have injured your finger, do the following as you are preparing to see your doctor: If your fingertip is completely cut off, do the following: Bring the amputated part with you to the emergency room and maintain control over it until the doctor is able to evaluate you. Going to the hospital would be such a waste of money for something as simple as a lost nail. 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