The human body has an amazing capacity to heal, even after major injuries likecutting off the tip of your finger. Hand surgeons have long known that a cut-off fingertip can regain much of its normal feel, shape, and appearance.Wounds to the fingerstypically heal well because fingers have an excellent blood supply. Usually, withclean amputationsof the fingertip (or even the digit itself), surgery is not needed.In general, for afingertip injuryto grow back fully, the injury must occur beyond where the fingernail starts. This article shows the stages of healing for a fingertip amputation.
The human body has an amazing capacity to heal, even after major injuries likecutting off the tip of your finger. Hand surgeons have long known that a cut-off fingertip can regain much of its normal feel, shape, and appearance.
Wounds to the fingerstypically heal well because fingers have an excellent blood supply. Usually, withclean amputationsof the fingertip (or even the digit itself), surgery is not needed.
In general, for afingertip injuryto grow back fully, the injury must occur beyond where the fingernail starts. This article shows the stages of healing for a fingertip amputation.
Day of InjuryThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPhoto © David Nelson, M.D.This young woman accidentally cut off the tip of her finger with a pair of scissors. She visited a hand surgeon to be evaluated.No surgical procedures or special equipment were used. The wound was cleaned well and covered with a waterproof dressing.
Day of Injury
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPhoto © David Nelson, M.D.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
This young woman accidentally cut off the tip of her finger with a pair of scissors. She visited a hand surgeon to be evaluated.
No surgical procedures or special equipment were used. The wound was cleaned well and covered with a waterproof dressing.
10 Days After InjuryThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPhoto © David Nelson, M.D.Early signs of healing can be seen 10 days later when she revisited her healthcare provider for a dressing change.
10 Days After Injury
Early signs of healing can be seen 10 days later when she revisited her healthcare provider for a dressing change.
One Month After InjuryThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPhoto © David Nelson, M.D.About one month after the injury, the wound is now dry. Moresoft tissueis now covering the tip of the finger, which is beginning to take on a more normal appearance.
One Month After Injury
About one month after the injury, the wound is now dry. Moresoft tissueis now covering the tip of the finger, which is beginning to take on a more normal appearance.
7 Weeks After InjuryPhoto © David Nelson, M.D.This image, taken only seven weeks after the injury occurred, shows a finger that looks nearly normal. The fingernail has resumed a more normal appearance and most people would not notice that the fingertip had been injured.
7 Weeks After Injury
Photo © David Nelson, M.D.
This image, taken only seven weeks after the injury occurred, shows a finger that looks nearly normal. The fingernail has resumed a more normal appearance and most people would not notice that the fingertip had been injured.
Tips to Promote Healing
For example, cleaning the wound with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide is not advised as it can slow healing.
It is important to ask how often your bandage should be changedat homeand which topical products (such as antibiotic ointment) you should use.
Monitor your injury for signs of infection, like redness, swelling, or drainage, and be sure to attend your follow-up appointments so your provider can monitor your progress.
Summary
Though they may be scary, many fingertip injuries (including clean amputations of the tip itself) can be treated without a need for surgery. It’s important to keep your wound clean and covered, and to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about infection. In most cases, the injury may not even be visible once the wound heals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fingernails take six months to grow from the germinal matrix (nail root) to the end of the nail. Fingernails have a growth rate of about three millimeters (0.1 inches) per month, but age and poor circulation can cause slower growth.Learn MoreStructure and Growth of Fingernails and Toenails
Fingernails take six months to grow from the germinal matrix (nail root) to the end of the nail. Fingernails have a growth rate of about three millimeters (0.1 inches) per month, but age and poor circulation can cause slower growth.
Learn MoreStructure and Growth of Fingernails and Toenails
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Takeo M, Chou WC, Sun Q, et al.Wnt activation in nail epithelium couples nail growth to digit regeneration.Nature. 2013;499(7457):228-232. doi:10.1038/nature12214University of Rochester Medical Center.How Wounds Heal.Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining M, He K.Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(4):420-423. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03426.x
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Takeo M, Chou WC, Sun Q, et al.Wnt activation in nail epithelium couples nail growth to digit regeneration.Nature. 2013;499(7457):228-232. doi:10.1038/nature12214University of Rochester Medical Center.How Wounds Heal.Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining M, He K.Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(4):420-423. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03426.x
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Takeo M, Chou WC, Sun Q, et al.Wnt activation in nail epithelium couples nail growth to digit regeneration.Nature. 2013;499(7457):228-232. doi:10.1038/nature12214University of Rochester Medical Center.How Wounds Heal.Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining M, He K.Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(4):420-423. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03426.x
Takeo M, Chou WC, Sun Q, et al.Wnt activation in nail epithelium couples nail growth to digit regeneration.Nature. 2013;499(7457):228-232. doi:10.1038/nature12214
University of Rochester Medical Center.How Wounds Heal.
Yaemsiri S, Hou N, Slining M, He K.Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(4):420-423. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03426.x
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