Subungual hematoma

Background

A painful condition that results from a collection of blood under the fingernail

Diagnosis

1. Clinical
   1. Blunt trauma to nailbed
   2. Blood under nail

Work-Up

None (may consider x-rays if possibility of underlying phalange fracture)

DDx

Tuft's Fracture

Treatment

1. Trephination (use handheld cautery)
   1. Nail removal reserved for those with associated with disruption of the nail or surrounding nail folds

Disposition

Home

See Also

Finger Fracture

Source

• Adapted from KajiQuestions
• Singer AJ. Current Management of Acute Cutaneous Wounds. N Engl J Med 2008; 359:1037-1046