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| Fig. 68.6 Subungual hematoma. (Courtesy of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center teaching files.) |
By far, the most common cause is trauma to the nail bed. Most subungual hematomas are accompanied by a throbbing pain secondary to the accumulation of blood below the nail plate, which exerts pressure on the underlying bed (Fig. 68-6). An effective and simple treatment is to simply pass the tip of a heated paper clip through the nail into the hematoma. Pressure relief and lessening of pain rapidly ensue, making you an instant hero!
