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Am Fam Physician. 2002;65(10):1997

to the editor: The article “Fingertip Injuries”1 suggests that the appropriate treatment of a subungual hematoma with a distal tuft fracture is decompression with “two to three weeks of splinting.” I was taught not to open the subungual hematoma in the presence of a fracture because this would convert a simple closed fracture to an open fracture and thus complicate management. I was also instructed by an orthopedist that, in his opinion, such management was tantamount to malpractice. Was I instructed incorrectly?

editor's note: This letter was sent to the authors of “Fingertip injuries,” who declined to reply.

Email letter submissions to afplet@aafp.org. Letters should be fewer than 400 words and limited to six references, one table or figure, and three authors. Letters submitted for publication in AFP must not be submitted to any other publication. Letters may be edited to meet style and space requirements.

This series is coordinated by Kenny Lin, MD, MPH, deputy editor.

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