Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to DoWhen to See a ProviderTetanusOther ComplicationsRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Do
When to See a Provider
Tetanus
Other Complications
Recovery
This article discusses what to do in minor and major cases of stepping on a nail. It also presents information about when to seek professional medical care for your puncture wound.
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What to Do If You Step on a Nail
If you’ve stepped on a nail, there are a few factors to consider when determining if you should seek medical attention, including:
It can be difficult to tell how deeply a nail penetrated your foot.
Wash the wound regularly, such as one to two times per day, and apply fresh antibiotic cream and a clean bandage after doing so. Antibiotic cream can be found over the counter, usually in the same section where you would find bandages.
Continue this cycle of cleaning and covering the wound until the wound closes.If the wound is painful, over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever medication may help. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication.
When You Should See a Healthcare Provider for a Cut or Scrape
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If either of the following applies, call 911:
Signs of an InfectionSome signs of infection include:Redness and warmth around the woundRed streaks extending from the woundSwellingPus coming out of the woundPain or a throbbing sensation near the woundFever
Signs of an Infection
Some signs of infection include:Redness and warmth around the woundRed streaks extending from the woundSwellingPus coming out of the woundPain or a throbbing sensation near the woundFever
Some signs of infection include:
Can Stepping on a Rusty Nail Cause Tetanus?
Stepping on a rusty nail can lead totetanusinfection, with nail puncture wounds a common way for the bacteria to get into the body.Symptoms of tetanus can include:
It’s important to seek treatment immediately if you suspect tetanus infection, as symptoms of the illness typically progress and can prove fatal.
Being immunized prevents tetanus. Many people get tetanus shots as part of routine care. You should get a tetanus shot every 10 years, staying up to date on tetanus boosters.
Stepping on a nail, while an accident, is not without its risks. Other complications can include:
Some puncture wounds from nails occur when using a nail gun, which can propel nails at speeds of about 150 feet per second. These wounds typically affect the hands and arms, but they can occur in other parts of the body.Seek medical care if this is how a nail entered your foot.
Diabetic Ulcer: Improving Healing Success for Feet and Legs
For many people, recovery after stepping on a nail will happen quickly. You may experience mild pain at the site and feel you need to wait a few days before returning to normal activities that irritate it while the wound is healing. Over-the-counter pain medication can help.
In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic medication. It’s important to complete this treatment and take it as directed.
If you experience complications, your recovery may take longer. Of special concern is the higher risk in people who heal slowly because of age or an underlying health condition like diabetes.
Summary
If you see any debris trapped at the site, or if the wound is severe, like a deep puncture, it’s best to see a healthcare provider. That’s especially true if the nail that was stepped on is rusty or dirty, or you have other factors (like an overdue tetanus booster) that could make your risk of tetanus more likely.
7 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.MedlinePlus.Cuts and puncture wounds.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus: Causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of tetanus.Baddour LM, Brown AM.Infectious complications of puncture wounds. In: Sexton DJ, Hall KK, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.Victoria First Aid.What are the antibiotics commonly used for puncture wounds?Abu-Qamar MZ, Kemp V, Whitehead L.Foot ulcers associated with external trauma among people with diabetes: An integrative review of the origin of trauma and outcomes.Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;114:103822. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103822.O’Kane L, Hooda Z, Molavi I.Delayed presentation of nail gun-associated traumatic pneumothorax with a retained foreign body: A case report.Am J Case Rep. 2022;23:e937641. doi:10.12659/AJCR.937641.
7 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.MedlinePlus.Cuts and puncture wounds.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus: Causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of tetanus.Baddour LM, Brown AM.Infectious complications of puncture wounds. In: Sexton DJ, Hall KK, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.Victoria First Aid.What are the antibiotics commonly used for puncture wounds?Abu-Qamar MZ, Kemp V, Whitehead L.Foot ulcers associated with external trauma among people with diabetes: An integrative review of the origin of trauma and outcomes.Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;114:103822. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103822.O’Kane L, Hooda Z, Molavi I.Delayed presentation of nail gun-associated traumatic pneumothorax with a retained foreign body: A case report.Am J Case Rep. 2022;23:e937641. doi:10.12659/AJCR.937641.
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.
MedlinePlus.Cuts and puncture wounds.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus: Causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of tetanus.Baddour LM, Brown AM.Infectious complications of puncture wounds. In: Sexton DJ, Hall KK, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.Victoria First Aid.What are the antibiotics commonly used for puncture wounds?Abu-Qamar MZ, Kemp V, Whitehead L.Foot ulcers associated with external trauma among people with diabetes: An integrative review of the origin of trauma and outcomes.Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;114:103822. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103822.O’Kane L, Hooda Z, Molavi I.Delayed presentation of nail gun-associated traumatic pneumothorax with a retained foreign body: A case report.Am J Case Rep. 2022;23:e937641. doi:10.12659/AJCR.937641.
MedlinePlus.Cuts and puncture wounds.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus: Causes and how it spreads.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of tetanus.
Baddour LM, Brown AM.Infectious complications of puncture wounds. In: Sexton DJ, Hall KK, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate; 2023.
Victoria First Aid.What are the antibiotics commonly used for puncture wounds?
Abu-Qamar MZ, Kemp V, Whitehead L.Foot ulcers associated with external trauma among people with diabetes: An integrative review of the origin of trauma and outcomes.Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;114:103822. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103822.
O’Kane L, Hooda Z, Molavi I.Delayed presentation of nail gun-associated traumatic pneumothorax with a retained foreign body: A case report.Am J Case Rep. 2022;23:e937641. doi:10.12659/AJCR.937641.
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