How can you tell if your toe is broken. What are the common symptoms of a broken toe. When should you seek medical attention for a toe injury. What are the treatment options for a broken toe. How long does it take for a broken toe to heal. Can you walk on a broken toe. What complications can arise from an untreated broken toe.

Common Causes and Symptoms of a Broken Toe

Broken toes are a frequent injury that can occur due to various reasons. The most common causes include dropping heavy objects on the foot, stubbing the toe against a hard surface, or experiencing a stress fracture from repetitive impact. Recognizing the symptoms of a broken toe is crucial for proper treatment and recovery.

Key symptoms of a broken toe include:

• Severe pain and discomfort
• Swelling around the affected area
• Bruising or discoloration
• Difficulty walking or bearing weight on the injured foot
• Visible deformity or misalignment of the toe
• Stiffness or limited range of motion
• In some cases, an open wound or bleeding

If you experience persistent pain or notice any of these symptoms after a toe injury, it’s essential to seek medical attention promptly. Proper diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and ensure a smoother recovery process.

Diagnosing a Broken Toe: When to Seek Medical Help

While minor toe injuries may heal on their own, it’s important to know when professional medical assessment is necessary. Seeking timely medical attention can help prevent complications and ensure proper healing.

Consider consulting a healthcare professional if:

• Pain persists or worsens after 24-48 hours
• Swelling doesn’t subside or continues to increase
• You’re unable to bear weight on the affected foot
• The toe appears misaligned or deformed
• You notice signs of infection, such as increased redness, warmth, or fever
• You have a medical condition that may affect healing, such as diabetes

A healthcare provider, typically a podiatrist, will perform a physical examination and may order X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the injury. This information is crucial for developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment Options for a Broken Toe

The treatment for a broken toe depends on the severity and location of the fracture. In many cases, conservative treatment methods are sufficient for proper healing.

Conservative Treatment Approaches

For minor fractures, the following conservative treatments are often recommended:

• Rest and elevation of the affected foot
• Ice therapy to reduce swelling and pain
• Compression with an elastic bandage
• Buddy taping (taping the injured toe to an adjacent healthy toe for support)
• Wearing comfortable, wide-toed shoes or special protective footwear
• Over-the-counter pain medications to manage discomfort

Medical Interventions for Severe Fractures

In cases of more severe fractures or complications, additional medical interventions may be necessary:

• Reduction (realignment) of the fractured bone
• Immobilization using a cast or splint
• Prescription pain medications
• In rare cases, surgical intervention to repair complex fractures

The choice of treatment will depend on the specific nature of the fracture and the patient’s individual circumstances. Following the prescribed treatment plan is crucial for optimal healing and to minimize the risk of long-term complications.

Recovery Timeline and Expectations

The healing process for a broken toe varies depending on the severity of the fracture and the individual’s overall health. Understanding the typical recovery timeline can help patients manage their expectations and take appropriate precautions during the healing period.

Typical Healing Timeframes

• Minor fractures: 3-4 weeks
• More severe fractures: 6-8 weeks or longer

During the recovery period, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully. This may include limiting physical activity, wearing protective footwear, and attending follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress.

Gradual Return to Activities

As the toe heals, you may be advised to gradually increase weight-bearing activities and slowly return to normal footwear. Physical therapy exercises may be recommended to improve flexibility and strength in the affected toe and foot.

It’s crucial to avoid rushing the recovery process, as this can lead to re-injury or prolonged healing time. Always consult with your healthcare provider before resuming high-impact activities or sports.

Complications and Long-Term Effects of Untreated Broken Toes

While broken toes may seem like minor injuries, failing to seek proper treatment can lead to various complications and long-term issues. Understanding these potential risks emphasizes the importance of timely medical attention and appropriate care.

Potential Complications

• Chronic pain and stiffness
• Deformity or misalignment of the toe
• Arthritis in the affected joint
• Altered gait or walking pattern
• Increased risk of future injuries
• Nerve damage
• In severe cases, nonunion (failure of the bone to heal properly)

These complications can significantly impact your quality of life and may require more extensive treatment if left unaddressed. Seeking prompt medical care for a suspected broken toe can help prevent these long-term issues and ensure proper healing.

Prevention Strategies for Toe Injuries

While accidents can happen, there are several measures you can take to reduce the risk of toe injuries and fractures. Implementing these preventive strategies can help protect your feet and toes from harm.

Protective Measures

• Wear appropriate footwear for your activities, especially during sports or high-impact exercises
• Use steel-toed boots in work environments where heavy objects may fall
• Keep living spaces well-lit and free of clutter to prevent tripping hazards
• Be cautious when walking on uneven surfaces or in unfamiliar areas
• Strengthen foot and toe muscles through exercises recommended by a healthcare professional
• Maintain a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to support bone health

By incorporating these preventive measures into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing a broken toe or other foot injuries.

Special Considerations for Children with Broken Toes

Children are particularly prone to toe injuries due to their active lifestyles and developing bones. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the unique aspects of broken toes in children and how to address them effectively.

Recognizing Broken Toes in Children

Children may not always be able to articulate their pain or discomfort clearly. Look for these signs that may indicate a broken toe in a child:

• Reluctance to walk or bear weight on the affected foot
• Crying or showing signs of distress when the toe is touched
• Visible swelling or bruising
• Limping or altered gait
• Refusal to wear shoes

Treatment Approaches for Children

Treatment for broken toes in children is similar to that for adults, but with some considerations:

• Children’s bones heal faster than adults’, potentially shortening recovery time
• Growth plate injuries may require special attention to prevent long-term growth issues
• Compliance with treatment may be challenging, requiring creative approaches to ensure proper healing

If you suspect your child has a broken toe, consult a pediatric podiatrist or orthopedic specialist for a thorough evaluation and tailored treatment plan.

Rehabilitation and Exercises for Broken Toes

After the initial healing period, rehabilitation exercises play a crucial role in restoring strength, flexibility, and function to the injured toe. These exercises help prevent stiffness and promote a full recovery.

Recommended Exercises

Once approved by your healthcare provider, consider incorporating these exercises into your recovery routine:

1. Toe curls: Gently curl and uncurl your toes to improve flexibility
2. Toe spreads: Attempt to spread your toes apart, holding for a few seconds
3. Marble pickup: Use your toes to pick up marbles or small objects
4. Towel scrunches: Scrunch a towel with your toes to strengthen foot muscles
5. Ankle rotations: Perform gentle ankle circles to maintain mobility

Start with gentle movements and gradually increase intensity as tolerated. Always stop if you experience pain or discomfort during these exercises.

Gradual Return to Physical Activities

As you progress in your recovery, your healthcare provider may recommend a gradual return to physical activities. This typically involves:

• Starting with low-impact activities like swimming or stationary cycling
• Slowly introducing weight-bearing exercises
• Gradually increasing duration and intensity of activities
• Returning to sports or high-impact activities only when cleared by your healthcare provider

Following a structured rehabilitation program can help ensure a safe and complete recovery, minimizing the risk of re-injury and promoting long-term foot health.

When to Consider Surgical Intervention for a Broken Toe

While most broken toes can be treated conservatively, there are situations where surgical intervention may be necessary. Understanding when surgery might be recommended can help patients make informed decisions about their treatment options.

Indications for Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be considered in the following scenarios:

• Severely displaced fractures that cannot be realigned manually
• Open fractures with skin breakage and potential for infection
• Fractures involving multiple bones or joints
• Nonunion or malunion of the bone after conservative treatment
• Persistent pain or functional limitations despite appropriate non-surgical management

Surgical Procedures

Common surgical interventions for broken toes include:

• Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF): Using pins, screws, or plates to stabilize the fractured bone
• External fixation: Applying an external device to hold the bone in place during healing
• Joint fusion: For severe fractures involving the joint, fusing the bones may be necessary

The specific surgical approach will depend on the nature of the fracture, the patient’s overall health, and the surgeon’s expertise. Post-surgical rehabilitation is crucial for optimal recovery and may involve a longer healing process compared to conservative treatment.

It’s important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of surgery with your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate course of action for your specific situation.

Does My Child Have a Broken Toe?

If your child has endured a fall or has dropped a heavy object on the toe, he or she may have a broken toe. There are several symptoms that are associated with this condition, including noticing if the skin is cut, experiencing severe pain and discomfort, as well as swelling or bruising. Additionally, wearing shoes may prove to be difficult, and a larger size shoe may need to be purchased as the healing process commences. Many broken toes are treated with a process that is referred to as buddy-taping. This is defined as taping the injured toe to the toe next to it and this may provide additional support. If you think your child may have a broken toe, please speak to a podiatrist as quickly as possible so proper treatment options can be discussed.

Broken toes may cause a lot of pain and should be treated as soon as possible. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Shaun J. Limon, DPM and Lisa Griffith-Limon, DPM from Limons Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What Is a Broken Toe?

A broken toe occurs when one or more of the toe bones of the foot are broken after an injury. Injuries such as stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it may cause a toe fracture.

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Swelling
• Pain (with/without wearing shoes)
• Stiffness
• Nail Injury

Although the injured toe should be monitored daily, it is especially important to have a podiatrist look at your toe if you have severe symptoms. Some of these symptoms include worsening or new pain that is not relieved with medication, sores, redness, or open wounds near the toe.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices located in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about What to Know About a Broken Toe

How a Broken Toe Is Diagnosed

There are several ways a broken toe can happen. These may include a sudden fracture by dropping a heavy object on your toes, stubbing your toe, or having a stress fracture gradually occur. Noticeable symptoms of a broken toe may include severe pain, discomfort, swelling, and many patients may see signs of bruising beginning to appear. In severe fractures, the toe may look crooked, and the ability to walk may be hindered. Once a proper diagnosis confirms the toe is broken, which typically happens when an X-ray is performed, the correct course of treatment can commence. It may be beneficial to elevate your foot, and this may aid in reducing a portion of the swelling, in addition to wearing a shoe with a stiff sole that can provide maximum support. If you have broken your toe, it is suggested that you speak to a podiatrist who can properly guide you through the healing process.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Anna Petrov from Family Foot & Ankle Care. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Wheeling and Chicago, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about What to Know About a Broken Toe

Signs of a Broken Toe

Most people have dealt with a stubbed toe, which can cause an immediate sharp pain. In most cases, this initial pain fades quickly. If the pain persists, however, this could be a sign of something serious. The pain associated with hitting your toe feels intense because there are many nerve receptors in your toes that are impacted by blunt force. If the toe is hit too hard, then this may cause a break or fracture, which will require medical attention. If you are unable to put weight on the toe or if walking causes discomfort, this could be a sign that your toe is broken. If you think you may have broken your toe or injured it severely, then it is highly recommended you speak with a podiatrist in order to learn about treatment options.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Tanisha Richmond, DPM from Richmond Foot & Ankle, LLC. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Dayton, OH . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about What to Know About a Broken Toe

How Broken Toes May Happen

There are numerous bones in the foot, which aid in maintaining balance in the body. If one of these bones should endure a fracture, the result may be difficulty in walking and this may hinder performing daily activities. Patients will often know if their toe is broken, and this may be preceded by dropping a heavy object on it or stubbing the toe extremely hard. There may be several symptoms that can be experienced, including intense pain and discomfort, swelling, and obvious bruising that may be dark purple in color. Having an X-ray performed is typically an effective method to determine if a broken toe has occurred, and this is generally followed by beginning treatment. It’s important to rest the toe, or possibly taping it to the toe next to it for support. If you feel you have broken your toe, please consult with a podiatrist to learn about additional treatment options, which may include surgery if your toe is severely broken.

A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact one of our podiatrists from San Antonio New Step. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

What to Know About a Broken Toe

Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).

Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Throbbing pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the skin and toenail
• The inability to move the toe
• Toe appears crooked or disfigured
• Tingling or numbness in the toe

Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.

Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in San Antonio, TX. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about What to Know About a Broken Toe

What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Toe?

If you’ve ever injured your toe before, then you know the agonizing pain, swelling and immobility that can come along with the injury. But all too often, individuals don’t realize their toe may in fact be broken. When broken toes go undiagnosed, mistaken for a sprain, further injury can occur. For this reason, it’s important to know the symptoms of a broken toe so you can get the appropriate care if you are ever injured. Learn the symptoms and treatments for broken toes here.

Broken Toe Symptoms

Although an injury to a toe or any part of the foot can cause you to have difficulty walking, it is not necessarily indicative of a broken bone. In some cases, sprains can hurt just as bad (if not worse) than a break. If you have sustained an injury to your toe, here are symptoms of a break to look for:

– Pain

– Swelling

– Stiffness

– Tingling

– Numbness

– Difficulty Walking

– Bruising

– Deformed Appearance

Seeking Medical Attention for a Broken Toe

An X-Ray is the only way to determine whether or not your toe is broken, so if you suspect you may have broken a bone, schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible. If you have an open fracture, exposed bone, noticeable deformity or are experiencing coldness and numbness, seek care immediately.

Treatment for a Broken Toe

Broken toes can be difficult to treat because we use our toes and feet to walk daily. If your toe is broken, it is important to stay off of the affected foot as much as possible to promote healing. There are numerous things you can do to reduce the pain associated with a broken toe. Elevating your foot will help increase the blood flow and reduce swelling, but icing may help reduce swelling as well. In extreme cases where the bone is exposed or there are multiple breaks, surgery may be required.

Contact the Professionals at Coastal Orthopedics Today

At Coastal Orthopedics, we understand how important it is to have full function of your feet and toes. That’s why we provide a variety of treatments for orthopedics injuries. If you suspect your toe is broken, call us today to schedule an appointment.

When a Broken Toe Requires Care: Bryan King, MD: Orthopedic Surgeon

The pandemic has changed life in many ways for almost everyone. Some people are eating too much, and others are drinking too much. Some are spending more quality time with their children, and others are filing for divorce from their partners. 

You may be surprised to learn of another pandemic-related change: More people than usual are breaking their toes.

According to a recent Washington Post article, podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons are reporting seeing many more broken toes at their practices since the pandemic. The theory is that people are spending more time at home without shoes, leaving their toes vulnerable to furniture and dropped objects. 

While a broken toe doesn’t sound like a major injury, it’s still a broken bone. It’s painful and can interfere with your walking and other activities. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bryan King of Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute explains self-care for your toe, and when you need to call a doctor.    

Broken toe symptoms

Broken toes are a common injury, one that most often happens when people drop something on a toe. You can also break your toe by stubbing it or bumping it into something hard. 

A sign that it’s broken and not simply bruised is that the pain is consistent. With a bruised toe, the pain subsides after a day or two. Other symptoms include:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Bruising
• Discoloration
• Deformed appearance

With minor breaks, the toe may heal on its own within a month or two. In other cases, you’ll need medical attention.

How to care for a broken toe

If the pain persists, you have trouble walking, or can’t wear shoes, you should see a doctor. While you may think you can simply tolerate the pain until a broken toe heals, the fracture is like that of any other broken bone — it needs to be properly aligned so it can heal without complications.  

Infection may set in, and your chance of developing osteoarthritis may increase. Treatment options include:

• Taping the broken toe to the neighboring toe to keep it stable
• Wearing a medically recommended stiff shoe to keep the toe in place
• Casting

Depending on the severity of the break, you may need surgery to place screws, plates, or pins to keep the bones aligned while they heal and fuse together.

Did you stub your toe? Is the pain persistent? Call Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for an appointment with Dr. King.

How to Tell if a Toe is Broken

Toes may be little, but they can produce massive pain when they get injured. If you’ve ever dropped something heavy on your foot, or smacked a toe into table leg, you probably know the feeling well.

Severe toe injuries may not always be the easiest problems to diagnose on your own. It hurts, obviously, but how do you know if your toe is broken, or if it’s just a severe sprain? And does it make a difference?

Ultimately, it may take a professional examination to know for sure, but there are some signs that tend to indicate a break more often than not. Breaks tend to be more painful than sprains, with greater swelling and (especially) more dark discoloration and bruising. If the toe looks deformed or out of place, that’s a pretty good sign you’re dealing with a break, too.

Any time pain is severe, you have trouble walking, or you just don’t see any improvement after a couple of days, there’s no reason to risk it—get it checked out. A lot of people think there’s nothing that can be done for a broken toe, but that’s just not true!

Obviously, you’ll want to stay off your feet as much as possible to give the toe a chance to heal. Depending on the location and severity of the break, we may also provide additional care. This can include:

• “Buddy taping” a broken toe to a healthy neighbor.
• Manually repositioning a displaced toe under local anesthetic. This is called “reduction,” and it usually does not require any incisions.
• Bandaging or casting a toe so that bones remain in place during the healing process.
• Prescribing a walking boot or stiff-bottomed shoe to protect the toe and prevent it from flexing during the healing process.
• Surgery. This is usually only needed for the most severe injuries.

Most broken toes will heal well without complication in about six weeks or so. That said, a broken toe that heals improperly can lead to chronic pain, post-traumatic arthritis, and a greater chance for re-injury, so you should always take treatment seriously. If you think your toe might be broken, please see the lower limb specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Center right away! Set up an appointment at one of our Cincinnati area offices by calling (888) 689-3317 today.

90,000 Question: How can you tell if your finger is broken? – Health

Did you know that just blowing on your thumb can get rid of many mental problems? This is because the thumb directly affects the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to all major organs and tissues, including the nose, mouth, throat, lungs, heart, intestines, and many others. Therefore, when you blow on your thumb, you stimulate the vagus nerve, triggering many beneficial processes in the body….
According to Arun Ghosh, a physician at the Liverpool hospital, thumbs have their own pulse. So when you blow on them, you regulate your heart rate and lower your blood pressure, which helps you calm down. This technique is also very helpful for anxiety.
Benjamin Abo, an emergency medical assistant and assistant professor of resuscitation at the University of Florida, says that blowing on our thumb lowers our heart rate. Others believe that this technique is just a modified version of the Valsalva experience, where you need to take a deep breath while holding your nose and mouth.This experiment also helps to regulate the heart rate and get rid of migraines and depression ..
Time codes:
Why this technique is useful 0:58.
Other techniques that help fight anxiety 2:36.
Look at fractals 2:49.
Press the point between the knuckles 3:31.
Massage the earlobes 3:56.
Paint on nails 4:25.
Fish watching 5:06.
Inflate the balloon 5:42.
Smile 6:05.
Epidemic Sound Music https: //www.epidemicsound.com /.
Summary:
When you blow on your thumb, you stimulate the vagus nerve, which triggers many beneficial processes in the body.
The thumbs have their own pulse. Therefore, blowing on them regulates your heart rate and lowers blood pressure, which helps you calm down ..
Watching natural fractals such as leaves, snowflakes, flowers or sea waves for at least 20 minutes a day can help reduce stress levels. by 60%….
Just press the indentation between the second and third knuckles. Thus, you act on the nerve and relax the area around the heart. and emotional balance and physical condition, contemplation of certain colors helps to calm tense nerves.
A 2015 study published in the journal Environment & Behavior confirmed that observing fish in an aquarium leads to a marked decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. …
When you inflate a balloon, you have to breathe deeply – this regulates your heart rate and allows you to relax.
Smiling sends a positive signal to the brain, which in turn produces a series of body responses that make you feel better. And if you can’t really smile, just pretend ..
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90,000 Home plaster cast treatment – Tartu Ülikooli Kliinikum

A plaster cast or a plaster cast is applied to the damaged part of the body in order to immobilize it ( immobilization ) to heal the injuries. After applying the plaster cast, you will feel warmth as it dries. The plaster cast dries and hardens for 24 hours.The duration of treatment with a plaster cast depends on the type of fracture and the doctor will inform you about this.

Plaster cast care

• Do not wet the plaster. Once wet, the bandage will soften.
• Do not go to the bathhouse during plaster cast treatment
• While taking a shower, carefully cover the bandage with plastic (such as cling film or a plastic bag), which is secured around the edges with adhesive tape so that as little water as possible gets inside.
• If the plaster cast loosens or becomes dirty, wrap it over with a new bandage.
• Do not lean on a cast without a doctor’s approval.
• Do not remove the cast without your doctor’s approval, even for a short time.

Injured limb care

• During plaster
  immobilization edema easily occurs; they decrease if you keep the limb in
  elevated position, more often wiggle fingers or toes.
• So that the injured limb does not lose muscle
  strength, start exercise with an immobilized limb after
  24 hours after applying a plaster cast. Tighten and relax the muscles underneath
  plaster so that they do not lose their strength. Keep your fingers warm and mobile.
• Fracture site often hurts
  the first days after applying a plaster cast; pain will decrease if held
  the limb in an elevated position and
  take pain medications.

• Cooling bags filled with ice are also used to reduce swelling and discomfort. An ice pack is applied to the damaged area for 20 minutes every 2 hours.Avoid getting the plaster cast wet.
• The spread of subcutaneous hemorrhages (bruises) under the cast up or down is common and harmless.

See a doctor if

• plaster cast presses,
  despite the elevated position of the limb;
• pain and swelling do not go away even in
  elevated position of the limb;
• Plaster has broken or softened;
• gypsum becomes unpleasant
  smell or you have a fever.

Removing the plaster cast

• If you have a cast on your leg, when you come to get the cast removed, do not forget to bring shoes for your injured leg.
• After removing the plaster cast, wash the skin with warm water and lubricate with an emollient cream.
• Exercise at home to strengthen the muscles of the injured limb. Get advice after removing the plaster cast.

Compiled by: sister Marika Järveots
Translation: sister Julia Lezik

How to determine if a finger is broken on a hand? Fracture treatment

Fracture of a finger is one of the most common injuries, with which one often comes to a traumatologist.The human body contains many tubular bones, the thinnest of which are located in the phalanges of the fingers. Tubular bones are more fragile, so finger fractures are no surprise.
Contents:

Types of finger fracture

When a fracture occurs, the bones change their anatomical structure. This is most often due to direct physical injury, when something heavy falls on the finger or a severe injury to the hand occurs. Indirect injury can also occur due to twisting of the phalanx or a sharp bend. Fractures can be:

• Oblique
• Transverse
• Splintered
• Helical
• Extra-articular
• Intra-articular.

Whatever fracture occurs, in any case, it is a rather painful phenomenon, so it is better to do everything possible to prevent a fracture than to walk with a plaster cast later. To more objectively imagine what a broken finger looks like, you can look at the images on the World Wide Web.

Fracture of concrete toe

Consider the fractures of each particular finger.

The thumb breaks most often due to severe bruising; during its treatment, there may be difficulties with the placement of bones. When a thumb fracture is repaired, traumatologists use special stretching devices. As soon as the finger is adjusted, a plaster cast is immediately applied to it, thanks to which the broken finger is securely fixed, and the bones do not move until the fusion is completed.

The index finger should be shown to the doctor immediately if you suspect a severe bruise or fracture. Only a traumatologist can competently insert a dislocated or broken bone and apply a cast. During this painful procedure, the doctor may suggest analgesics to the patient. Usually, there are no problems with rehabilitation.

The treatment of the middle finger in case of a fracture is no different from that of other fingers. Do not delay too long with a trip to the doctor, as the finger may partially or completely lose its functional properties.

A fracture of the ring finger is usually treated without complications. While wearing the cast, doctors recommend that you perform some exercises with healthy fingers so as not to lose their functionality.

Usually the little finger is subject to injury from an unsuccessful fall. It is almost impossible to move a broken little finger and a person feels a sharp pain. A fracture of the little finger should be treated in the same way as other fingers with the obligatory application of plaster.

Treatment of finger fractures is almost identical.

Finger fracture symptoms

Characteristic signs of a fracture:

• Sharp or aching pain after an injured toe, which becomes more severe with exertion or touch.
• Swelling or swelling that gets bigger over time.
• Limited mobility.
• Unable to make a fist.
• There is blood flowing at the fracture site.
• The nail has turned black.
• The finger moves in an uncharacteristic place.
• Bone crunches or crackles during finger movement.
• The finger is deformed.

So that you can distinguish between a fracture and a bruise, here is the symptom of the latter:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Bruise
• Insufficient mobility
• Traumatic shock

Now you can tell a fracture from a bruise yourself.

Finger fracture treatment

If you injured your finger, you should immediately apply a cold object to reduce swelling and pain.Next, you need to try to secure the broken finger to a hard, elongated object. It can be anything from a tree twig to a ballpoint pen. Be sure to consult a traumatologist.

Already in the hospital, you will be given a splint, which consists of two or more sticks, which are fixed near the broken finger and attached with a bandage. When an urgent need arises, the doctor can give the patient an anesthetic pill to reduce pain.The entire diagnosis does not depend on the symptoms, but on the results of the x-ray.

In any case, the patient should not panic and commit stupid actions with which he can only aggravate the situation. For example, some people manage to faint or try to put the bones sticking out in the open fracture on their own.

Next, the doctor evaluates the results of the X-ray and performs the treatment. If the fracture occurs without any displacement, then the patient is given a Beller splint or a plaster cast, which will need to be worn from three weeks to a month.When the doctor fixes and gathers together the fragments of the bone, he also takes into account the fact that soft tissues can also be damaged if the tubular bone is fractured. To exclude possible additional problems with a fracture, you need to follow these recommendations:

• When fixing your finger, give it a half-bent position, do not try to align it.
• It is necessary to shorten the time between self-fixation and medical examination as much as possible.
• Only the injured finger needs to be fixed.

If you have an avulsion fracture near the nail phalanx, then you cannot fix the finger in a bent state, as this will only aggravate the process.

With a timely visit to a doctor, a fracture of any complexity can be cured in a month and a half. The treatment time depends on what kind of fracture it is and where it is located on the finger.

Rehabilitation after finger fracture

Traumatologists and physical therapists recommend that their patients do the following exercises for developing the fingers.

A person should take two cups – one with rice grains, and the other empty. Using the injured finger, you need to transfer the grains from one cup to another, moreover, you need to take them as many pieces as possible at a time.

Press your palm to a flat, flat surface, and raise your fingers as high as possible, and they need to be alternated.

Sculpt sausages from plasticine. Roll out with a straight palm and fingers slightly curved upward.

While watching the video, you will learn about first aid for a fracture.

At first after removing the plaster, you should not be too zealous with physical exertion on the sore finger. Do not forget about the basic rules of caution and try not to injure your fingers.

How to determine if your finger is broken

25 myths about trauma, which are curious to learn only in theory

Recently Twitter user @glazzzvlad, who is also a Moscow traumatologist Vladislav Viktorovich, offered to write facts about modern traumatology for likes.The life hacker armed himself with the most interesting of them, found no less interesting information and compiled a list of common myths about injuries.

Fractures

Myth 1. A fracture in the bone is less serious damage than a fracture

A fracture is a fracture, only without displacement and preserving the isthmus of intact bone tissue. Fractures also include fractures, depressions, and cracking.

Myth 2. If you can move a finger, it is not broken

In some cases, a fracture can affect the mobility of the affected part of the body, but more often you can move it.Mobility should not be the determining factor for self-diagnosis.

Myth 3. A fracture can be recognized by pain or swelling

The pain can be unbearable, or it can be quite mild. If only because this is a subjective impression and there are very hardy and patient people among people. In addition, the pain is not necessarily localized at the site of the fracture, since bone fragments damage adjacent tissues and the discomfort can spread over a large area.

So you shouldn’t be guided by the level of pain, let alone wait for a bruise to appear, an injury is a reason to see a doctor.

Myth 4. An injured limb needs to be cooled or warmed

With cooling, that’s right: an ice pack will ease the pain. With warming, the opposite situation will occur: it will cause blood flow to the place of exposure to heat, increase the swelling, and the pain will become stronger.

Myth 5. To break ribs you have to hit hard

Breaking ribs can be done, for example, by coughing ^{or sneezing. Injury occurs due to the strong contraction of the muscles of the chest wall.}

Myth 6.The doctor will help you heal broken ribs faster

In the vast majority of cases, doctors simply observe the fusion process. Medical assistance, and emergency, is required when the rib is broken in several places. This trauma interferes with breathing and surgery is needed.

Myth 7. A fracture of the spine leads to complete immobility

You can get a fracture of the spine and not know about it. If there is no damage to the spinal cord and spinal nerves, motor function is usually preserved.

Myth 8. A spinal cord injury permanently immobilizes

People with this injury usually experience some loss of sensory and motor function. But both the degree of damage and the possibility of recovery depend on the specific case. Some injured people return to full life after rehabilitation.

Myth 9. The doctor can immediately give an accurate forecast for recovery

If the doctor is not a telepathic (and most likely not), he will not be able to say exactly how long the rehabilitation will take and what results it will have.This is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s attitude.

Myth 10. Plaster completely immobilizes the fracture site

Bones continue to move even in plaster – this is a natural process of fusion. But parts of the bone can rush in different directions, so you have to periodically take X-rays to track and correct this.

Myth 11. Bone fusion is a natural process

Basically yes. Doctors allow the bones to grow together in a way designed by nature.But in some cases it is necessary to interfere with the natural process. For example, if we are talking about a possible deterioration in joint function due to the formation of callus. In this case, the bone is rigidly fixed so that it cannot move at all.

Myth 12. Diet can speed up the process of bone fusion

The time of fusion cannot be shortened – it can only be lengthened. But a balanced menu doesn’t hurt anyway.

Cuts and traumatic amputations

Myth 13.In case of a cut, you can put a bandage on yourself, it will heal itself

In some cases, you need not even go to the emergency room, but call an ambulance:

• If the bleeding does not stop within five minutes. Blood loss is unlikely to make you healthier.
• If a foreign object remains in the wound. It must be removed by a doctor, otherwise there is a risk of injuring yourself even more.
• If you cut your hand badly. The emergency room will not help you – you need a surgeon who will connect the damaged tissue in such a way as to maintain full mobility of the hand.

Myth 14. Severed fingers are only sewn in the movies

If you search for news on the keyword “sewed a finger”, you will be surprised how often ^{doctors have to do such operations. And the severed limbs began to be sewn not yesterday .}

True, @glazzzvlad writes that the arm will be restored with more zeal than the leg. Lower limb prosthetics are well developed and allow the patient to lead a normal life, while reconstruction is a long and painful process.So cutting off a leg is more expedient than restoring it.

Myth 15. Nobody has been sick with tetanus for a long time, no need to get vaccinated

Russians rarely get tetanus. For example, in the Kama region, no one was diagnosed with such a diagnosis from 2004 to 2016 ^{. But this became possible precisely thanks to vaccinations: the vaccination program reduced the incidence of this infection by 50 90 385 times.}

High mortality and severe symptoms are a good reason to visit the emergency room if you have injured your skin.You can get infected simply by falling ^{in the street and scraping your knee.}

Bites

Myth 16. For rabies, 40 injections are given in the abdomen

For adults, the rabies vaccine is injected into the shoulder, and for children, in the front of the thigh. You cannot give an injection into the buttock – this is written in instructions ^{for the drug. And not 40 injections are done, but only six.}

Myth 17. It is necessary to go to the doctor if a “wild” animal has bitten

The animal becomes a carrier of the causative agent of the disease approximately 10 days before symptoms begin to appear.It is dangerous even if it looks cute and healthy. It should be especially puzzling when an animal that came from the wild begins to caress – this indicates an illness, because such behavior is unnatural.

You can feel completely safe only if you are bitten by a house cat, who saw his will only through the window.

Myth 18. You can take your time to see a doctor until the first symptoms appear

It doesn’t work with rabies. When symptoms appear, medicine is powerless.The mortality rate from rabies is close to 100%.

History knows isolated cases of cure for rabies. For example, a 15-year-old girl recovered ^{after being immersed in an artificial coma. But let’s be frank, almost none of us has a chance to add these statistics.}

Myth 19. There are no prophylactic vaccinations against rabies

There are, but only for people at risk – those who have to interact with animals by occupation. The rest are most often vaccinated upon a bite.

Accidents

Myth 20. Seat belts in cars only interfere with escape

According to WHO ^{, seat belts reduce the risk of death for a passenger in the front seat by 40-50%, in the back – by 75%. If the driver is not fastened during a collision, then in 90% of cases he will break his chest and injure the abdominal cavity. And if he or one of the passengers flies out through the windshield, it will end in death in the overwhelming majority of cases.}

User @glazzzvlad estimates the chances of flying out through the windshield at 20%.

For every advice to wear a seat belt, of course, there are hundreds of people whose acquaintance survived only because he was not wearing a seat belt. But the fastened ones often come on their own, but the unfastened ones are brought in and often no longer taken away.

@glazzzvlad

Traumatologist

Usually arguments against using a belt are related to the fact that a person will not have time to get out of a burning car. But the car will light up if the collision occurs at high speed.In this case, an unfastened person will still not be able to get out, since, most likely, he will be dead.

Myth 21. The victim in an accident must be removed from the car as soon as possible, or it will explode

If there is no fire and fuel and lubricants are not spilled, the victim must not be touched under any circumstances. Its condition and transportability must be assessed by doctors. Moving around with a spinal injury can make the situation much worse.

It is better to take care of the placement of warning signs at the accident site.This will eliminate the situation when an inattentive driver crashes into an already damaged car.

Myth 22. The scene of a fatal accident is covered in blood

Fatal injuries may not be visible from the outside. At the moment of a collision, a person experiences almost cosmic overloads, especially if the car is moving at high speed. From the impact, the car stops abruptly, and the human organs continue to move inside the body. Impact with the ribcage can lead to rupture and internal bleeding.

Burns

Myth 23. Severe burns should be greased with butter or sour cream

These products are a favorable environment for the growth of microbes. A colony of microorganisms is not at all what a painful open wound needs. You need to go to the emergency room immediately, they will tell you what to do.

Myth 24. Ice must be applied to a burn

Any object with a negative temperature for burns is more suitable for torture than for help. Temperature contrast will only accelerate skin breakdown.Pain in minor burns can be reduced by placing the affected area under cool (not ice-cold) water.