Cut finger ~ would like advice!
I cut myself while mincing parsley last night (I know ~ duh!). Fortunately my knife is really sharp, so it was a clean cut, but unfortunately, it was a substantial cut, going through my fingernail. I took off approximately 1/4 of the top right portion of my fingernail and the flesh underneath, which remained behind on my knife. Sorry to be gross, but here's why I need advice . . . Obviously, this will be an "open" wound for a little while, and since I work in a kitchen, I could use some advice on protecting it so it heals well. Also, I'm hoping my nail isn't deformed when it grows back. Any advice would be much appreciated!
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16 Comments:
Get thee to a hospital. Have them disinfect and wrap it, and make sure you have not done some real damage.
juliebugsmama at 7:30AM on 07/27/09
Eeek! I was really hoping to avoid the ER. But I'm starting to think a tetanus shot might be a good idea ~ it's been a long time. Thanks!
Sandy S at 7:40AM on 07/27/09
I'm with Julie. There are bad germs out there nowadays.
If they don't wrap it all up, or you decide not to go, you can get little finger sleeves at the drug store (like miniature condoms). Or cut off the finger of a disposable glove and tape it on.
lemonfair at 8:13AM on 07/27/09
The hospital is probably the best idea, but realistically, if I were in your situation, I can't imagine myself going that route. Keep it really clean yourself with hot, soapy water and hydrogen peroxide, and use triple antibiotic ointment. I would just wear a full glove on that hand, at least until it's started healing - annoying, but if you only use the finger cot you'd have to change it every time you washed your hands, which would be way more annoying. Change the wrap 3+ times per day, washing well and disinfecting each time. When it starts healing, resist the temptation to go al fresco to dry it out and make the healing quicker - you're more likely to scar that way, and doing kitchen work with a not-quite-healed cut under a rubber glove will reopen the cut because of the moisture and the activity.
producestories at 9:00AM on 07/27/09
You can also try a liquid band-aid after disinfecting it with peroxide, like @producestories said. Let it dry from the antiseptic, then use the liquid band-aid (which is called Nu-Skin, comes in a little bottle and looks and smells like nail polish) then cover it with a band-aid.
HeartofGlass at 9:05AM on 07/27/09
I would have it checked out by a Dr. first off. They have these little finger glove that you can wear when something like this happens to protect your finger. I had something very similar happen to me with my thumb nail, same thing, right through the nail to the flesh, but I did it putting the top of my car down (convertible), and my nail came out fine. Good luck and take care.
pjracz10 at 9:42AM on 07/27/09
I've done the same thing but without the fingernail part. I love sharp knives but yeah they can cut you well too...
my BF the physician was there when I sliced mine off. he made me wash the wound with soap, and put a gauze, and taped well.
next morning I flew back to my place and went straight to Student Health (sometimes being a grad student was good- I mean, all you need is a nurse), by that time my wound was firmly attached to the gauze so they made me soak the finger in saline to detach it. It took a long time to "grow back" and I still have a scar tissue that I can feel.
I'd keep finger from getting wet for a while though. Showering/washing my head was the worst part. get latex gloves and rubber bands!
Take care!
hmw0029 at 9:55AM on 07/27/09
I did this a few months ago on the other side of my finger and severed a tendon. You have to go to a doctor/hospital. They need to clean it out so there's no infection and they give you better instructions on how to take care of it. This is a food forum and not a medical advice board and it's hard to give advice like this without seeing the wound.
gingercookiewithlime at 10:17AM on 07/27/09
Thanks for all the great advice! I tried changing the bandage this a.m. and found it firmly adhered. After soaking/tugging to remove it and getting a better look, I decided that a tetanus shot might be a good idea. It's a clean slice ~ very gross ~ but it's been a long time since my last shot and I've got a nasty sheet pan burn that's three days old on the forearm of the same arm. (Yes, it's been that kind of week!) So, killing several birds with one stone, I've made a dr appt for later this a.m.
Again, thanks for all your very helpful comments and well wishes!!!
Sandy S at 10:30AM on 07/27/09
I am mroe than willing to give food advise. Medical advise I am not. Go see a doctor.
JerzeeTomato at 12:59PM on 07/27/09
I'm comfortable telling you that I wouldn't go to the Dr. Unless I saw an infection setting in.
You never said if you worked in a pro kitchen or home kitchen. I'm guessing you were at home, cause most pro cooks have done so many grotesque things with knives to their fingers they wouldn't go through the trouble of asking what they should do.
The human body is pretty amazing and well equipped at fighting off infection. I'd suggest keeping the wound clean and dry if possible. If you work in a kitchen, you're screwed, cause it will rarely be either clean or dry.
I'd save the co-pay and just keep an eye on it.
Pavlov at 4:53PM on 07/27/09
I bake in a pro kitchen but was cooking at home when I cut my finger. You're absolutely right ~ I see lots of chefs wearing duck tape around their fingers! I've got plenty of de rigor burn scars, but this is my first bad cut. Blech. And you're right - clean and dry are seeming pretty impossible right now. Doctor gave me a tetanus shot and said to glove up until the nail bed grows some new skin. The nail itself will grow back in a month or two.
Sandy S at 6:30PM on 07/27/09
Several years ago I did a similar cut but was slicing pears for a pear tart for a Brunch at home; took off the entire side of the tip of my left index finger from just below the bottom of the nail and the side fo the finger next to it a good 1/2 inch simply gone and sitting on the counter. One good thing about really sharp knives, you don't know you've been cut until its over. My first thought was "Oh, s***" then my 2nd was I need a tetnus shot. As I am/was a paramedic in a previous life, I knew enough to clean it well and cover it but also knew that stiches were not an option. I went to the hospital I was working at and after lots of comments as to my knife versus scalpel skills, I had it cleaned again, rebandaged and a protective alumminum splint applied to protect the finger tip from being damaged again and slowing down the healing process. between the splint, latex gloves and rubber bands i managed to get though it all. Interestingly enough, while the nail grew back just fine, the side of the finger is still flat where the cut was from the tissue not growing back as it heals. keep it clean, dry and get your tetnus shot.
myrajane at 9:11PM on 07/27/09
I got myself pretty bad cutting parsley as well. The re-grab always puts fingers in the path of the knife. Once cut off the tip of my thumb. Ended up just cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and then hitting with Povidone-iodine. Then bandaged with non stick band aids, then gauze, then medical tape, then a finger cot. Finished cooking dinner with that rig.
Then the next day I went to change the bandage and clean, non-stick band aid my ass. I almost threw up trying to pull that bandage off of the tip of my thumb. Started using the back side of clear tape over the wound so it wouldn't stick.
Just keep changing the bandages and cleaning with antiseptic and hydrogen peroxide. An aluminum finger splint like what is used when taping up broken fingers will help you to not bump the injury.
climbhighak at 9:58PM on 07/27/09
I did the exact same thing to my finger, mincing herbs with a chef's knife. From now on, work a little more slowly, watch what you are doing, concentrate, and be careful with that knife, Eugene!
If you cleaned it out yourself, there's not much more a doctor can do for you. 3M makes a product called "Steri-Strips". Your drugstore should have them, otherwise a surgical supply. They are long, thin mylar adhesive strips that will help keep the wound closed, and/or a bandage in place. Follow the previous advice to keep the wound clean and dry.
Your finger and fingernail should regenerate completely.
salpico at 6:38AM on 07/28/09
The splint is a great idea ~ thanks! I was starting to wonder how, exactly, I was going to keep the wound from getting bumped and reopening all the time at work (pulling sheet pans out of the oven, lifting pots, etc.). Tomorrow is my first day back at work with the fingertip bandage, finger cot, and glove, so I'll throw a splint into my knife kit and hope for the best. Thanks, again, for the great tips.
Sandy S at 8:26PM on 07/28/09