The case of the foaming toe.

Abstract

Case Report A 23 year old soldier, a native of Sri Lanka, who was a former junior Commonwealth Games athlete, gave a history that during an athletics meeting in June 1980 a sixteen pound shot had been accidentally dropped onto his left toe which resulted in a sub ungual haematoma. Some weeks later a bloodstained discharge occurred from beneath the nail. He suffered no further trouble until January, 1981 when the left big toe became painful following a cross country run in wet shoes. Several days later there was a further discharge from beneath the nail, which was at first blood stained pus, but soon changed to a clear frothy discharge. He was referred for an out patient surgical opinion and was seen at the Cambridge Military Hospital on 1 May 1981. At that time there was no evidence of infection, but due to the severity of the ingrowing big toe nail avulsion was considered necessary, and he was placed on the waiting list for this procedure to be performed.