fingertip and nailbed lacerations
Last reviewed 01/2018
Most fingertip injuries should be referred to a surgeon for assessment. Pulp tissue is needed to pad the bone of the fingertip and surgery is sometimes performed to rebuild this.
Fingertip injuries in children under the age of three years may be managed with just dressings if less than one-third of the length of the fingernail has been lost. Flaps of tissue in small children are surprisingly viable if steri-stripped in place.
Nail-bed injuries where there is displacement or deformity of the fingertip should be referred to casualty.