What should I do if my foot is pierced by a nail?
While working, I stepped on a nail with one foot and now I'm really panicking. I heard that the wound is prone to infection and would like to know how to handle it. What else should I pay attention to afterward?
Doctor's answer (1)
After a foot has been punctured by a nail, it is essential to promptly and properly manage the injury. First, avoid walking around unnecessarily to prevent secondary damage caused by the nail moving within the wound. Apply pressure to the wound with a clean gauze or towel as soon as possible to stop the bleeding.
If the nail remains protruding from the wound, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Seek immediate medical attention, where a qualified physician can remove the nail under strict sterilization and appropriate anesthesia, reducing bleeding and damage to surrounding tissues.
The physician will thoroughly clean and debride the wound, repeatedly irrigating it with hydrogen peroxide, normal saline, or other solutions to remove foreign bodies, bacteria, and necrotic tissue, thus reducing the risk of infection from anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium tetani. Apply gentle pressure to the wound using clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding, avoiding excessive force that could worsen the injury.
After debridement, the physician will usually determine whether suturing is necessary based on the wound's condition. Additionally, tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immune globulin is generally required to prevent tetanus infection. Afterwards, keep the wound clean and dry, change the dressing regularly as instructed by your doctor, and closely monitor for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, increased pain, or discharge. If any abnormalities occur, seek medical attention promptly.
