A woman had to have her finger amputated after a manicure left her with a life-threatening infection that was eating away at her ‘finger and bone’.
Jose Jackson, 57, had to get the top of her index finger surgically removed and nearly lost her ‘whole arm’ after contracting a staph infection.
The infection is caused by the bacteria staphylococcus and symptoms include hot, swollen skin. It can be treated with antibiotics when caught early.
The grandmother-of-two was accidentally ‘jabbed’ in the cuticle while she got a set of acrylic nails at a salon in December 2017.
Her finger continued to swell until it was ‘purple’ and ‘weeping’ puss. Jose eventually went to the hospital to get it checked over.
When doctors removed the bandage she’d wrapped the digit in, she claims her finger was so misshapen that it looked like a ‘jagged mountain range’.
Jose Jackson, 57, had to get the top of her index finger surgically removed and nearly lost her ‘whole arm’ after contracting a staph infection
Doctors had no choice but to amputate the affected area until the infection was completely removed, leaving Jose (pictured) with a half a finger
Doctors had no choice but to amputate the affected area until the infection was completely removed, leaving her with a half a finger.
She underwent two one-hour ops in January 2018.
It was discovered during a health inspection that the tools had not been cleaned properly between customers and Jose went on to win a settlement for her injury.
Although she struggled, Jose’s learning to adjust to life with one less digit, and she is hoping to raise awareness for the importance of cleanliness in nail bars.
Jose, a pub manager, said: ‘I wanted to treat myself to a manicure so I felt nice, but it ended up ruining my life and costing me a finger.
‘The top of my finger looked like a jagged mountain range at first. The infection had literally eaten away at my finger and my bone.
When doctors removed the bandage she’d wrapped the digit in, she claims her finger was so misshapen that it looked like a ‘jagged mountain range’
Doctors were unable to save the tip of her finger and Jose was sent for surgery to amputate the tip. When the surgeon returned to check-up on Jose, he removed more of her finger
‘The doctors removed over half my finger, it was either that, or I lose my whole arm.
‘Without that finger I can’t grip or do up buttons – it’s changed the way I do everything. Losing my finger has completely changed my life.’
Jose booked an appointment with a nail salon to get a set of acrylic nails in December 2017. During the treatment, the nail technician accidentally slipped while using a cuticle pusher tool and ‘jabbed’ Jose’s nail bed.
Despite the discomfort, Jose didn’t want to make a fuss, and got the set finished.
Over the next week, she noticed her finger starting to ‘swell’ and turn ‘purple’.
She booked herself an appointment with the GP to get things checked out. Despite the doctor sending Jose away with antibiotics, things continued to get worse.
Jose’s fingers continued to get worse until she was in agony. She went back to the GP who removed her dressing and urged to go to hospital immediately.
When she arrived, an X-Ray revealed the extent of the damage.
Although she struggled, Jose’s learning to adjust to life with one less digit, and she is hoping to raise awareness for the importance of cleanliness in nail bars
‘The infection and literally eaten away at my finger and my bone,’ she said.
Jose was diagnosed a ‘staph infection’, an infection which develops from the bacteria staphylococcus entering the skin through a cut.
Doctors were unable to save the tip of her finger and Jose was sent for surgery to amputate the tip in January 2018. Unfortunately, when the surgeon returned to check-up on Jose, he decided to remove more of her finger.
After getting over the shock, Jose suspected the cause of the infection may have stemmed from her visit to the nail salon. Six weeks after surgery, she contacted a health inspector in her area who conducted a check of the bar.
They concluded the tools used on nails were not disinfected between uses and Jose contacted a solicitor who helped her seek compensation against her bar.
She won an out of court settlement and received a five figure payout.
Jose said: ‘I was terrified that it might happen to someone else so I got a health inspector to check it out. I ended up winning compensation money but it doesn’t feel like a win, it doesn’t bring my finger back.’