big toe nail, possible hematoma? - Nail Problems Message Board

tripas · 11-08-2008, 01:22 AM

About two months ago I jammed my toe fairly hard into my shoe while playing basketball. Soon afterwards the entire area underneath the nail turned bluish-purple. After several days (about 5) the pain from the nail went away and it's been pain free since then.

The nail is still in one piece and seemingly attached, but my concern is it doesn't seem to be growing out. The area right beneath the cuticle is still the same bluish-purple color. Is this normal? I had thought that it would've grown out just a little bit by now so that at least the area beneath the cuticle would be of normal color.

So should I do anything now or continue waiting for it to hopefully grow out?

Marti · 11-10-2008, 06:29 AM

Toenails grow really slow - it can take up to a year for the nail to completely replace itself. If you damaged the matrix where the nail plate cells are born (just under the skin behind the cuticle area) it will remain bruised for a long time. Damage to the matrix can temporarily halt nail cell production, so itwill be a while longer before you begin to see new nail growth. Also, it may grow in with a horizontal line across the nail plate due to the trauma, but this will also grow out with the nail plate.