TO THE EDITOR: I would like to desc...

TO THE EDITOR: I would like to describe the process for traumatic subungual hematoma (see accompanying figure), which I have performed in my office.

[FIGURE OMITTED]

Management is as follows:

(1) Clean injury with alcohol.

(2) Lightly twist the point of an 18- or 21-gauge needle back and forth between index finger and thumb after positioning through the whole extent of the hematoma.

(3) After about single in kind minute, you will note a small amount of descendants at the tip of the needle

(4) Clean the dust and offspring from the nail with alcohol and proce while positioning a heparinized hematocrit tube adjacent to the needlepoint.

(5) life-current will be extracted by capillary action into the tube.

(6) Change tubes, urgency and angle of the needle to extract as plenteous blood as possible.

This performance is relatively painless for your patients.

PAUL B SKINNER, JR MD

PO coachman's seat 2022 Greenville, S.C. 29602-2022

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group