What is the best way to dress/treat a broken big toe nail?

I would leave it open to the air as much as possible.

I damaged both big toenails several years ago and that was what I was advised to do.

I knocked my big toe nail on the metal steps coming out of the swimming pool last October.

It was broken right across the nail bed and also at one side.
Only just connected at the other side.

Being a woose I could not bare to mess with it and I knew it would eventually fall off (which eventually did in about November.

First problem to solve was to keep nail in place at home and in the pool.
I padded the toe nail area with lint and tied gauze around it.
I then covered with tubular bandage.

From Amazon I purchased waterproof pool/ beach foot shoes ( bit like soft ballet shoes),
to use when the swim pool was open and in the shower.

When the nail eventually fell off,
I only used a small piece of lint and tubular bandage to protect the soft area when wearing outdoor shoes.

Thankfully my toenail has now started to grow back and no longer needs padding.

Thank you both. It is less throbbing today, thank goodness. It looks clean but is weeping a clear liquid, which I guess is a good sign the dog keeps standing on it though I'm pretty sure she doesn't normally!

I've done it too several times as I never wear shoes in doors. Keep it clean and dry. I would never use Savlon or other creams like that and if you can get some non stick dressings and tape that will be good for when you want to put a shoe on. Jolly painful and inconvenient.

Ouch! ?
Ooh Jane that does sound painful.
As if you haven't got enough on your plate.
The bit about the dog made me smile though. They do love getting in the way

Can I just say beware infection whatever way you treat it, it is important to try and keep it clean and dry whilst it’s healing.

And you were being a good neighbour!

I bet you blessed the idle teenage son lolling about in bed while you suffer!

As dogsmother said, keep an eye on it in case of infection, it's so important with the feet.

Thank you everyone. I will keep an eye on it and contact my GP if I need to, they are generally pretty good at dealing with you if you need them. I did curse the son a bit!

Having just endured the delights of an ingrowing toenail I would suggest the gauze and tape option you mention. Plasters can stick where you don't want them to and then when you try to remove them the pain can be something else!! Infection needs to be guarded against so exposing to air for quicker healing needs to be weighed up against keeping it covered for protection. Best wishes.

We used jelonet (vaseline impregnated gauze) and a non-stick dressing with a finger glove (comfifast) on top in my Treatment Room. Kept dry and changed every 2 days.

I would try to get an appt. with your GP or at least the practice nurse.
Or go to A&E. It must be very painful.

Clean and dry, no pressure on it. I symphathise.

update for anyone who doesn't mind feet

it has kept clean and not become infected, all the trauma wounds have healed too.

now the skin is peeling around the toenail and the remianing toenail is 4/5 white. I presume it is dying?

at this point do I wait or book an appointment with a podiatrist?

thank you

Sounds so so painful. I would go to a minor injuries unit if there is one near you or if you are lucky at our gp surgery you can self refer to see a podiatrist so that may be worth checking out in your area. Good luck.