Toe nail broken below the cuticle line...will it grow back? - Nail Problems Message Board

goldsmith_l · 10-23-2006, 03:35 PM

I've been running 6-9 miles a day wearing an ankle brace that made one shoe fit a bit snug on the toes. I noticed after a week that my nail on my second toe had bruised from the pressure against the front of my shoe. It wasn't the black "runners toe" but rather just looked like a normal skin bruise that happened to have a nail above it. It was sore and red all around the nail bed and about 1/4 inch under the cuticle. Then, someone stepped on my toe and an immediately a white line appeared beneath the cuticle that looks as though the nail has broken beneath the skin and has shifted about a 45 degree angle and is putting pressure on the skin. My boyfriend had lost nail after nail from years of soccer and all have grown back fine. However, a friend had her foot stepped on and had to have the matrixectomy and now has no nail. Do I need to see a orthopodist? Do I try to keep the nail from falling off, bandage it or something? More importantly, I know it takes a while, but will I eventually have another nail grow in?

Marti · 10-24-2006, 10:41 AM

Unless the matrix was surgically removed, a new nai lwill grow back. It may be a bit disfigured when it first grows in again, but the injured portion of nail bed will heal and the nail will be 'normal' again.

Do not try to prevent the nail from shedding when it is time for it to do so. Once it separates from the nail bed, you may even want to trim away the lifted portion to prevent further injury.

Never run in shoes that are tight against the toes and nails. If you have a nail injury, you need to wait until the worst of it is over before running again. That, or buy a bigger pair of shoes to accomodate the injured toe/nail.