Runner's nail, also known as walker's nail or jogger's nail, is a common
injury sustained by sports enthusiasts. Most patients don’t recall a
direct incidence of trauma to the nail, but when questioned further, they recall
a recent event where they were more active than usual. Examples of these
activities might include a 10k road race, a hike in the woods or even a
marathon. The activity acts to distract us from the repetitive injury sustained
by the nail during the activity. Runner's nail is very common in marathon
and ultra marathon runners.
The physical appearance of runner’s nail is a bruise (subungual hematoma) that encompasses all
or part of the nail. Often the bruise is asymptomatic. Again, that lack of
blunt injury to the nail confuses patients as to how and why runner's nail occurred in the first place.
The most common contributing factor in cases of runner's nail is that the foot slides forward in the shoe and the nail is subjected to damage by hitting against the inner toe box of the shoe. The more this event is repeated, the greater the chance for disruption of the nail and bruising
beneath the nail.
Treatment of Runner's Nail
The first step in the treatment of runner's nail is prevention. Be sure
that you're using a shoe designed for the activity that you're participating in.
For instance, wear a hiking boot for hiking and not a tennis shoe. If you
foot does tend to slide forward in the show, be sure to use a
tongue pad to secure the foot a bit
better in the shoe. A tongue pad can limit damage to the nail by
preventing the foot from sliding forward into the toe box of the shoe.
Once runner's nail does occur, treatment can be broken down into two stages.
Immediately upon noticing discoloration of the nail, the bleeding beneath the
nail (subungual hematoma) should be drained using the fine drill in
The Nail
Rescue Kit for Runner's Nail. Pedi-Boro or Epsom Salts soaks can be used to evacuate debris or dead tissue from beneath the
nail. Oral antibiotics are only necessary is the adjacent soft tissue becomes
infected. If infection does occur, the nail will most likely need to be
removed by your doctor.
The second stage of care can last 3-12 months depending upon the severity of initial injury.
As the nail continues to grow, a portion or all of the nail may slough. As a
new nail grows in, it’s extremely important to apply a
topical antifungal
medication to the nail to prevent
fungal infections of the nail. Keep the nail clean and dry. Avoid
wearing a Band-Aid for prolonged periods. A Band-Aid will trap moisture in and
around the nail and promote fungal infections.
If possible, try to keep the old or damaged nail in place. Removing the nail
results in contraction of the skin of the distal tuft of the toe. If the distal
tuft contracts from the loss of the nail, the new nail will be unable to grow
back into a normal position. So when possible, keep the old, damaged nail in
place to guide the new nail into position. The nail can be held in place by
using The Nail Rescue Kit for Nail Avulsions.
Nomenclature:
No information is available for this topic.
Anatomy:
A subungual hematoma (runner's nail) will create a mechanical separation of the
nail from the underlying nail bed. The pressure created by the subungual
hematoma will force the nail float or separate from the nail bed. The new
nail, as it grows in to replace the old, damaged nail will reattach to the nail
bed.
Biomechanics:
No information is available for this topic.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of runner's nail will vary. Most cases of
runner's nail will have little to no symptoms.
If the nail becomes loose, the nail may act as a foreign object
and begin to cause a soft tissue infection. The skin may try to reject the
nail by developing a soft tissue infection. Symptoms of rejection of the
nail would include increase redness, swelling and pain.
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At the conclusion of this article you'll find a number of products that are
recommended by Myfootshop.com to treat this condition. These products have
been hand picked by the medical consulting staff at Myfootshop.com for their
effectiveness and reliability. Should you have any questions regarding the
selection or use of these products please don't hesitate to contact us at
mailto:sales@myfootshop.com.
The information
on this page does not constitute the practice of medicine and is offered as
an educational aid. Should you have a medical problem, Myfootshop.com
and their representatives recommend that you seek the help of your physician
or other healthcare professional.
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