Broken Toe

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on August 16, 2021

• Broken Toe Overview
• Broken Toe Causes
• Broken Toe Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Broken Toe Treatment Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Other Therapy
• Next Steps Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Synonyms and Keywords
• More

Another name for a broken toe is a toe fracture. Each toe is made up of several bones. One or more of these bones may be fractured after an injury to the foot or toes.

Broken toes usually result from some form of trauma or injury to the foot or toe. Injuries such as stubbing a toe or dropping a heavy object on a toe may cause a fracture. Sometimes, a broken toe may result from prolonged repetitive movements, as in certain sports activities. This is called a stress fracture.

• After the injury, pain, swelling, or stiffness can occur. Bruising of the skin around the toe may also be noticeable. The toe may not look normal, and it may even look bent or deformed if the broken bone is out of place. It may be difficult to walk because of the pain, especially if the big toe is fractured.
• Shoes may be painful to wear or feel too tight.
• Some other problems may develop in addition to, or as a result of, the fracture. These complications can occur right away after the injury (minutes to days), or can happen much later (weeks to years).
  • Immediate complications
    • Nail injury: A collection of blood may develop underneath the toenail called a subungual hematoma. If it is large, it may have to be drained. To drain a subungual hematoma a doctor will make a small hole in the toenail to drain the blood out. If the hematoma is very large or painful, the entire toenail may need to be removed.
    • Open fracture: Rarely, the broken bone in a toe fracture may stick out through the skin. This is called an open or compound fracture. Careful cleansing of the wound and possibly antibiotic medication will be needed to prevent the bone from becoming infected. Sometimes surgery may even be necessary.
  • Delayed complications
    • After the toe fracture heals, the person may still be left with arthritis, pain, stiffness, or even a deformity.
    • Sometimes, the fractured bone will not heal completely (called a nonunion), or will heal improperly (called a malunion). Although it’s rare, surgery may be necessary to fix this problem.

The injured toe should be looked at every day. Call a doctor if any of the following occur:

• Worsening or new pain not relieved by pain medication and the measures described in the treatment section
• Sores, redness, or open wounds near the injured toe
• A cast or splint is damaged or broken

Go to a hospital’s emergency department if the following signs or symptoms are present:

• Cold, numb, or tingling toes
• Blue or gray-colored skin
• Open wounds, bleeding, or drainage from near the broken toe

A doctor will ask some questions to determine how the toe was injured. Then the doctor will examine the injured toe and should also make sure there are no other injuries.

It is best to seek medical evaluation soon after the injury to ensure proper treatment and healing.

• A doctor may take an X-ray to see if a toe is broken or fractured.
• X-rays are not always necessary to make the diagnosis of a broken toe, especially if the break is in one of the smaller toes.

These are things that can be done at home to help decrease the pain and swelling and to help the fracture heal properly.

• Elevation
  • Swelling that occurs after the injury worsens pain.
  • To help decrease the swelling (and the pain), keep the foot raised above the level of the heart as much as possible.
  • Prop the foot up on some pillows, especially when sleeping. Reclining in a lounge chair is also helpful.
• Ice
  • Put ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the injury for 15-20 minutes every 1-2 hours for the first 1-2 days.
  • Make sure to place a towel between the skin and the bag of ice to protect the skin.

• Rest
  • Avoid any strenuous exercise, prolonged standing, or walking.
  • Crutches may be needed, or a special shoe to wear when walking to avoid putting weight on the fracture while it heals.

Depending on the location and severity of the toe fracture, the fracture may need to be reduced (put back into place) and splinted or casted. If there is an open wound near the injured toe, a tetanus shot and antibiotic medication may also be necessary.

Pain medications

• Usually only acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is needed for pain.
• Talk to the doctor before taking any new medications.
• For a severe fracture, the doctor may prescribe something stronger.
• Pain may be helped by elevating the foot and using ice packs.

• Reduction
  • If the toe fracture is displaced (the 2 ends of the broken bone are out of place) or rotated (the toe is pointing in the wrong direction), the doctor may need to reduce it, or put it back into place.
  • Sometimes a shot of medication (called local anesthesia) may be needed to numb the toe before it is put back into place.
  • After a reduction, the broken bone will need support to hold it in place while it heals.
• Buddy taping
  • If the toe fracture is a minor or small fracture in a bone of one of the small toes, a doctor may only need to tape the injured toe to the one next to it for support. This treatment is also called buddy taping.
  • If the toe is buddy taped, it is usually safe to bathe, and then replace the tape afterward, but check with the doctor to make sure it is OK.
  • Make sure to put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. This prevents the skin between the toes from developing sores or blisters.
• Casting
  • A cast is usually not required for a simple toe fracture.
  • A hard-soled, sturdy, and supportive shoe should be worn.
  • A doctor may suggest a special shoe to wear if the foot or toes are very swollen.
  • A cast (or even surgery) may be needed if the big toe is broken, a fracture involves a joint, or a lot of small toe fractures occur at once.
  • A cast may also be needed if a bone in the foot or leg is broken in addition to the toe.

Talk to the doctor to find out when to schedule an appointment to have the injured toe re-checked to make sure it is healing properly. If any problems or complications develop sooner, the appointment should be scheduled sooner.

To help prevent an injury resulting in a broken toe, sturdy and supportive shoes should be worn.

Broken toes usually take about 6 weeks to heal. If problems last longer than 6 weeks, another X-ray may be needed, or the injury should be rechecked by the doctor to see how the bone is healing.

Simple fractures usually heal well with no problems. However, a very bad fracture or a fracture that goes into a joint is at risk for developing arthritis, pain, stiffness, and possibly even a deformity.

The American College of Podiatric Medicine
ACPM Headquarters/Corporate Address
1060 Aviation Blvd, Suite 100
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

www.acpmed.org

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
9400 W. Higgins Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

(847) 823-7186

www.aaos.org

toe fracture, metatarsal fracture, phalanx fracture, broken toe, foot trauma, foot injury, nail injury, subungual hematoma, open fracture, compound fracture, displaced toe fracture, rotated toe fracture, buddy taping, stress fracture

Top Picks

Broken Toe

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on August 16, 2021

• Broken Toe Overview
• Broken Toe Causes
• Broken Toe Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Broken Toe Treatment Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Other Therapy
• Next Steps Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Synonyms and Keywords
• More

Another name for a broken toe is a toe fracture. Each toe is made up of several bones. One or more of these bones may be fractured after an injury to the foot or toes.

Broken toes usually result from some form of trauma or injury to the foot or toe. Injuries such as stubbing a toe or dropping a heavy object on a toe may cause a fracture. Sometimes, a broken toe may result from prolonged repetitive movements, as in certain sports activities. This is called a stress fracture.

• After the injury, pain, swelling, or stiffness can occur. Bruising of the skin around the toe may also be noticeable. The toe may not look normal, and it may even look bent or deformed if the broken bone is out of place. It may be difficult to walk because of the pain, especially if the big toe is fractured.
• Shoes may be painful to wear or feel too tight.
• Some other problems may develop in addition to, or as a result of, the fracture. These complications can occur right away after the injury (minutes to days), or can happen much later (weeks to years).
  • Immediate complications
    • Nail injury: A collection of blood may develop underneath the toenail called a subungual hematoma. If it is large, it may have to be drained. To drain a subungual hematoma a doctor will make a small hole in the toenail to drain the blood out. If the hematoma is very large or painful, the entire toenail may need to be removed.
    • Open fracture: Rarely, the broken bone in a toe fracture may stick out through the skin. This is called an open or compound fracture. Careful cleansing of the wound and possibly antibiotic medication will be needed to prevent the bone from becoming infected. Sometimes surgery may even be necessary.
  • Delayed complications
    • After the toe fracture heals, the person may still be left with arthritis, pain, stiffness, or even a deformity.
    • Sometimes, the fractured bone will not heal completely (called a nonunion), or will heal improperly (called a malunion). Although it’s rare, surgery may be necessary to fix this problem.

The injured toe should be looked at every day. Call a doctor if any of the following occur:

• Worsening or new pain not relieved by pain medication and the measures described in the treatment section
• Sores, redness, or open wounds near the injured toe
• A cast or splint is damaged or broken

Go to a hospital’s emergency department if the following signs or symptoms are present:

• Cold, numb, or tingling toes
• Blue or gray-colored skin
• Open wounds, bleeding, or drainage from near the broken toe

A doctor will ask some questions to determine how the toe was injured. Then the doctor will examine the injured toe and should also make sure there are no other injuries.

It is best to seek medical evaluation soon after the injury to ensure proper treatment and healing.

• A doctor may take an X-ray to see if a toe is broken or fractured.
• X-rays are not always necessary to make the diagnosis of a broken toe, especially if the break is in one of the smaller toes.

These are things that can be done at home to help decrease the pain and swelling and to help the fracture heal properly.

• Elevation
  • Swelling that occurs after the injury worsens pain.
  • To help decrease the swelling (and the pain), keep the foot raised above the level of the heart as much as possible.
  • Prop the foot up on some pillows, especially when sleeping. Reclining in a lounge chair is also helpful.
• Ice
  • Put ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the injury for 15-20 minutes every 1-2 hours for the first 1-2 days.
  • Make sure to place a towel between the skin and the bag of ice to protect the skin.

• Rest
  • Avoid any strenuous exercise, prolonged standing, or walking.
  • Crutches may be needed, or a special shoe to wear when walking to avoid putting weight on the fracture while it heals.

Depending on the location and severity of the toe fracture, the fracture may need to be reduced (put back into place) and splinted or casted. If there is an open wound near the injured toe, a tetanus shot and antibiotic medication may also be necessary.

Pain medications

• Usually only acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is needed for pain.
• Talk to the doctor before taking any new medications.
• For a severe fracture, the doctor may prescribe something stronger.
• Pain may be helped by elevating the foot and using ice packs.

• Reduction
  • If the toe fracture is displaced (the 2 ends of the broken bone are out of place) or rotated (the toe is pointing in the wrong direction), the doctor may need to reduce it, or put it back into place.
  • Sometimes a shot of medication (called local anesthesia) may be needed to numb the toe before it is put back into place.
  • After a reduction, the broken bone will need support to hold it in place while it heals.
• Buddy taping
  • If the toe fracture is a minor or small fracture in a bone of one of the small toes, a doctor may only need to tape the injured toe to the one next to it for support. This treatment is also called buddy taping.
  • If the toe is buddy taped, it is usually safe to bathe, and then replace the tape afterward, but check with the doctor to make sure it is OK.
  • Make sure to put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. This prevents the skin between the toes from developing sores or blisters.
• Casting
  • A cast is usually not required for a simple toe fracture.
  • A hard-soled, sturdy, and supportive shoe should be worn.
  • A doctor may suggest a special shoe to wear if the foot or toes are very swollen.
  • A cast (or even surgery) may be needed if the big toe is broken, a fracture involves a joint, or a lot of small toe fractures occur at once.
  • A cast may also be needed if a bone in the foot or leg is broken in addition to the toe.

Talk to the doctor to find out when to schedule an appointment to have the injured toe re-checked to make sure it is healing properly. If any problems or complications develop sooner, the appointment should be scheduled sooner.

To help prevent an injury resulting in a broken toe, sturdy and supportive shoes should be worn.

Broken toes usually take about 6 weeks to heal. If problems last longer than 6 weeks, another X-ray may be needed, or the injury should be rechecked by the doctor to see how the bone is healing.

Simple fractures usually heal well with no problems. However, a very bad fracture or a fracture that goes into a joint is at risk for developing arthritis, pain, stiffness, and possibly even a deformity.

The American College of Podiatric Medicine
ACPM Headquarters/Corporate Address
1060 Aviation Blvd, Suite 100
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

www.acpmed.org

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
9400 W. Higgins Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

(847) 823-7186

www.aaos.org

toe fracture, metatarsal fracture, phalanx fracture, broken toe, foot trauma, foot injury, nail injury, subungual hematoma, open fracture, compound fracture, displaced toe fracture, rotated toe fracture, buddy taping, stress fracture

Top Picks

What a broken finger looks like on a hand

A finger fracture is a common problem, as the tubular bones in the phalanges are quite fragile. This article will help you figure out what a broken finger looks like on your hand, and what measures should be taken.

Contents

How to tell a fracture from a bruise

It is recommended that you first become familiar with the symptoms of both. When bruised, internal tissues and organs are not damaged. The bruise affects only soft tissues. A severe bruise provokes the appearance of edema and makes it difficult to move.

The main symptoms of injury:

• Pain at the time of injury, which gradually subside after.
• The presence of a hematoma with a severe bruise, it can form both immediately and after 2-3 days.
• Impairment of mobility does not occur immediately, but as edema increases.
• Swelling of the injured area quickly becomes noticeable.

Fracture is a violation of the integrity of the bone, which occurs as a result of mechanical impact.

They are divided into open and closed types. With the closed type, damage affects only the bones, soft tissues remain unaffected. The following symptoms help distinguish between a broken finger and a bruise:

• Crunch at the time of injury.
• Deformation of the limb shape.
• Pathological mobility.
• Swelling in the injured area.
• Bleeding from an open wound.
• Increased pain during limb movement.

To accurately determine the injury, diagnostics are carried out, including an examination by a traumatologist and X-rays. To determine the correct treatment, it is important to determine exactly how the fracture looks on the picture of the hand.

If an injury is suspected, provide first aid. The first step is to apply a splint to keep the injured area immobile. Then cold is applied to it, and painkillers are also given to the victim. With a slight bruise, it is enough just to apply cold, this is enough to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

See also

Broken toe

Broken toe is one of the most common types of injuries. This type of injury is characterized by…

Symptoms

In order to determine what a broken finger looks like on a hand, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the damaged area. You can distinguish a bruise from a fracture on your own even before seeking medical help, since it has pronounced symptoms:

1. Severe pain at the time of injury. With a bruise, the pain can also be severe, but with a fracture, it does not subside even after a few hours.
2. Increased pain with mobility of the injured limb. Due to severe pain, she becomes immobile.
3. Edema and hematoma. Swelling at the site of injury may appear immediately or increase gradually. This symptom is optional, often swelling and hematoma do not appear.
4. Hemorrhage is present in an open wound. Such an injury is noticeable immediately, without diagnostics.
5. The limb in the injured area may be deformed. Compared to a healthy limb, the affected will differ in size.
6. The skin becomes warmer at the site of injury.
7. Pressing on the tip of the finger causes severe pain.

A fracture in which the integrity of the bone is broken does not require investigations to make a diagnosis. This type has its own distinctive features:

1. The shape of the hand is changing.
2. A crack is visible on probing.
3. The finger becomes mobile in places where it should not be mobile.
4. A crunch appears on palpation.

But in order to prescribe the appropriate treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor and undergo all the necessary tests. Fractures have many varieties, so it is impossible to accurately determine their type without x-rays.

Types of fractures

Fractures of the fingers are classified by etiology, degree of soft tissue damage, depth, the presence of displacement and its localization.

A fracture of the thumb is one of the rarest and most unpleasant, it completely deprives the patient of working capacity. A broken thumb on the hand looks swollen, it becomes visually shorter, it cannot be straightened. An injury to the phalanx of the thumb is difficult to treat and requires a long rehabilitation.

See also

How to bring down a tumor on the leg from a fracture

In this article we will try to answer in detail the question – how to bring down the tumor formed on the leg from the transferred …

A fracture of the ring finger does not lead to disability, but it is considered difficult and requires a long treatment. A broken ring finger on the hand looks like a fracture on the thumb – it swells, its deformation becomes noticeable.

A common problem is a broken hand. This type of injury is divided into three types according to the location:

• On the bones of the wrist.
• Fracture of the phalanx of the finger.
• On the metacarpals.

A fracture of the hand looks like any other injured area – first of all, it swells. The area at the site of injury may turn red, a hematoma may occur.

Another of the most common types of injury is a fracture of the little finger. In order to understand what the little finger looks like when a finger is fractured, it is important to know its main symptoms. Firstly, swelling is localized directly on the injured area. Secondly, blood accumulates when blood vessels rupture. Thirdly, the phalanx of the finger is deformed.

A severe fracture of the finger may be accompanied by rupture of the nail bed or bruising under the nails. This symptom helps to clearly understand what a broken finger looks like.

Children are the most vulnerable to trauma. Symptoms in children are no different, a broken arm of a child looks the same as in an adult. In this case, it is necessary to provide first aid in a timely manner and give the child painkillers.

See also

First aid for a leg fracture

A fracture is a fairly common injury, which means a violation of the integrity of bone structures….

Fractures of an open type are characterized by a violation of the integrity of the soft tissues. This type is the easiest to determine on your own. An open wound does not always form at the time of injury. It may appear later, when the fragment begins to move. An open fracture carries an additional risk, as there is a possibility of infection.

Any type of fracture may be accompanied by displacement. Several types of displacement of bone fragments are classified:

• Rotational.
• Displacement of fragments along the bone axis.
• Lateral displacement of fragments.
• Violation of the axis of the bone.

The fragments themselves are divided into two groups – primary and secondary. Primary appear under the influence of traumatic force. Secondary arise from the interaction of muscles and fragments.

Rehabilitation

If the basic treatment is carried out correctly, the rehabilitation will be much faster. The rehabilitation period is important in order to fully restore the working capacity of the hand. Rehabilitation includes massages and physiotherapy. To speed up the recovery of hand function, the following actions are recommended:

• Playing the keyboard and musical instruments.
• Using an expander.
• Small parts assembly.
• Grain sorting.

Exercises are done several times a day. During their implementation, the appearance of pain is possible, in order to minimize them, it is necessary to start recovery gradually, since during the gypsum the fingers lost their mobility.

It is necessary to develop the entire hand, even if the fracture is on one finger. This is the only way to achieve full restoration of hand function.

Doctors’ opinion

According to doctors, the rehabilitation period in most cases passes without complications. It does not require a large number of restrictions, a person does not have to radically change his lifestyle. In order to fully return the hand to working capacity, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations. If you do not pay due attention to the period after the removal of the cast, it can leave negative consequences for life. The main thing to consider is that you need to load the injured arm gradually and not lift weights.

Summary

Fractures are a common problem faced by most people. Despite the fact that a broken finger has pronounced symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help. Only with the help of examination and special studies can a correct diagnosis be made. Without identifying the exact type of injury, appropriate treatment cannot be prescribed. If you do not consult a traumatologist, self-treatment can bring serious complications in the future.

Bandage on Benzema’s hand due to a broken finger. He hasn’t had surgery for two years to play for Real Madrid permanently – Football dream of an idiot – Blogs

Football dream of an idiot

Blog

Self-sacrifice.

Karim Benzema scored spectacularly against Chelsea to secure a saving draw before leaving for Stamford Bridge.

Every close-up of Karim draws attention to the white bandage on his right arm. Benzema wears it because of an injury that he received more than two years ago.

All the details of the injury

•‎ In January 2019, at the end of the first half of the match against Betis, Karim collided with Mark Bartra, landed badly on his little finger and showed that he could not continue the game. He didn’t come out for the second half.

•‎ Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari confirmed a broken little finger, but Benzema played against Sevilla in the league just six days later. He missed only the Cup match against Leganes between them, but the Frenchman’s help was not required there – Real Madrid won the first match with a score of 3:0.

• “He shows generosity and helps the team by playing with a broken finger and overcoming pain. A decision on the date of the operation will be made within a week, as the return of some players will give Kareem time to rehab, Solari said.

•‎ Real Madrid had a busy schedule in January-February 2019 (Barcelona, ​​Atlético, Ajax) and Benzema postponed the operation to help the club. A special bandage is made for his hand, which allows him to play without discomfort.

He has been playing in this condition for more than two years and is forced to refuse surgery – recovery will take some time, and too much depends on his presence on the field at Real Madrid.

In such self-sacrifice Karim’s environment sees his growing up and readiness to be a leader.

• In the same 2019, Benzema consulted with American doctors whether it was possible to cope with a fracture without surgery, but they ruled out other methods of treatment.

•‎ Spanish edition of ABC reported in April that the Frenchman’s arm was bleeding and he would likely have to undergo surgery after this season.

•‎ Pictures of Benzema’s bare little finger got into the net – it looks creepy.

• Since the start of the 2018/19 season, Benzema has made 102 out of 109 appearances in La Liga and scored 63 times. For Real Madrid, he is simply irreplaceable.

What is hard taping and how does it help with injuries? Says sports doctor and author of Sports.ru Artem Ryzhenko

Unfortunately, athletes have a near-pofigistic attitude towards fingers when it comes to fingers. Somehow look at the hands of the goalkeepers, there the fingers are like a branch of a tree – everything is broken and in different directions. Why Karim doesn’t have the operation, I can’t say. Most likely, this is due to the potential rehabilitation. Benzema will not be able to train and play in the general group for at least a month.

As far as I understand, his interphalangeal joint was injured, but it’s hard to talk about the severity of the damage, because we don’t really have anything other than the word “fracture” and a photo of a swollen finger.