First Aid For Fighters: Torn Toenail

by Meredith & Doc Dill

More for the injury journal:

After months of 'breaking in" savate shoes that were a bit small on my right foot (my right is a half size bigger than my left, whatever, I'm not the only one), my big toe turned black. This was unattractive but not too upsetting since I have the nail polish option. It was already starting to grow out, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Then one day when I was sparring, I threw a roundhouse and my partner stuck out his elbow. He wasn't wearing elbowpads and my toenail split in half horizontally. I'd like to mention that I WAS wearing my savate shoes at the time. So currently I'm applying neosporin and trying to keep the remainder of the nail on the toe with bandaids.

Doc Dill says:

Ouch! Busted toenails hurt like a bitch!!

Well, ideally you should trim the broken part to prevent moisture accumulating and developing a fungal nail bed infection. Neosporin to keep it from drying out and cracking and preventing a bacterial infection. Cover it to protect it and wash it twice a day thoroughly trying it. In a couple of months the nail will grow out and you'll have beautiful tootsies once again.