Should we go to ER for hurt toe?

Question

My husband hit his foot while walking up our concrete steps. His big toenail hit the top edge and now it looks like almost the whole nail had been ripped up off the skin and it was bloody. The nail is still attached to his toe somehow. Should we go to the ER or can we do something at home? Right now it is bandaged up with gauze and he took an Aleve for the pain.

Answer 1

I work as a nurse in an emergency room. You can try this:
put ice on toe 20 min out of every waking hour and keep it
elevated as much of the time as possible (even while sleeping). Also, after washing foot in mild soap and water
(or soak it for a few minutes), dry thoroughly. Place a 1/2
cotton ball between the great toe and the adjacent toe,
then tape the two toes together with silk or cloth tape (you
can get cloth tape from the local drug store). Other types
of tape could be used for the next few hours until you can
get to a drug store. Keep toes taped together for 3-4
days, though you can remove it and replace immediately
if it becomes soiled or wet. Keep up the ice and elevation
for 24-48 hours. Am assuming you will be keeping a
bandaid or a bit of gauze and tape over the nail as well.

The nail will either start to look and feel better after 4 days
or it will obviously be severely damaged - in which case
it will probably fall off on its own eventually. A new one
may or may not grow back in that case. Except for
antibiotics and narcotic painkillers, there is nothing
else they will likely do for it in an ER. Antibiotics would
just be to ensure no infection occurs. Unlikely as long
as you keep it clean. Motrin 800mg (4 of the over the
counter) every 6 hours will help - this is a prescription
dose. Even when a toe is x-rayed and found to be
fractured this is about all we do for it.

The one exception would be if your husband is a
diabetic. In that case, he needs to see a doctor
within the next 12 - 24 hours. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

What you did was probably enough for now... unless he is diabetic... and as long as it is not bleeding through the bandage. his toenail will probably end up falling off, just watch for any pus or redness to occur, if that starts up in the next couple of days he probably has an infection... then go to you doctor, but you don't want to wait in the ER for 6 hours tonight for them to put a new bandaid on it.

Answer 3

Try wrapping it as tight as you can with it not turning purple and going numb and try to keep taking the aleeve for pain and possibly try some ibuprofen for swelling, if any. When I almost lost my pinky nail i kept it wrapped it up for about a week or so and kept antibiotic on it and then put a splint (can buy em at walmart) on it until it started to heal...may work, worth a try...good luck hope it helps

Answer 4

i'd use some antibacterial product and wash the foot so he doesn't get an infection.
but truth is, the best thing is to yank off the toenail (when he's ready) and make sure it is clean.
unfortunately there isnt' much they can do beyond what has been mentioned - clean it, cut it, wrap it.

Answer 5

Unless it hurts insanely bad, I'd just take care of it at home. There's not much you can do, except for keeping it as clean as possible. Watch for infection though. Any sign of it and it's time to go to the doc for antibiotics.

Answer 6

How about you just go to your regular doctor?!?

You may need a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in the last 5 yrs.

Watch for infection

Answer 7

ER-- you'll wait forever. Try what the nurse suggested, and if no better, see a podiatrist.