How To Treat A Broken Pinky Toe Before Hiking or Camping

What Causes A Broken Pinky Toe

When your frantically getting ready for a camping trip, you catch your fifth toe on an object in the house. You may even hear a crack. Now you’ve got a painful fifth toe with a possible fracture.

Symptoms and Evaluation of a Possible Broken Pinky Toe

I frequently have this type of patient come into my office. Their toe is swollen, black and blue, and x-rays show it’s fractured. The first thing I determine is whether it’s stable. Let’s assume the fracture is stable. The toe alignment is good, but the toe is painful. And of course, you’re getting ready to head out for a weekend of summer fun. Given our short summers in Seattle, you definitely want to take advantage of this. But what do you do to be safe?

Treatment of a Broken Pinky Toe

The first thing I do is tape the fifth toe to the fourth toe, and possibly even the third. Now we’re gonna wrap a fifth toe to help treat a toe fracture. We’re starting with the use of fairly small, self-stick material. This happens to be called CoFlex. The common one available is also called Coban, C-O-B-A-N. Start with the fifth toe. This kind of wrapping is called a buddy splint because we’re gonna go around the injured toe, in this case the fifth toe, and then connect it to its buddy, the fourth. I often also add in the third toe. Now we’ve stabilized the fifth toe.

Second, I assess how much activity you’re going to encounter on your trip. And we want to try to immobilize the toe beyond just taping. One of the simplest things to use is called a postoperative surgical sandal. It’s just a flat sandal with Velcro that does not bend. This is the key. You have to leave the toe alone. Well, how do you know you’re leaving it alone? Well, if you have normal sensation, the best way to know you’re leaving alone is to have minimal pain. So if you splint the three toes together, you put it in a surgical sandal, and you’re just around the campfire and not on a trail too much, this may be all you need to do for at least part of the time.

Third, if you plan to be more active, you cannot be in flip flops. You need to use a shoe or a boot that will stop your leg from moving over the foot and minimize the force on those toes. That could be as little as a tennis shoe. But what I like to recommend in the situation just described, out camping and wanting to be on a trail a little bit, is a lightweight hiking shoe. Preferably that comes above the ankle and where the sole has minimal bending. But if you don’t own a pair, you should go out and get a pair.

So bottom line, injury to fifth toes is very common. Immobilization of the toe with buddy splinting is necessary. And wearing something to protect the toe and stop the bending is crucial.

Need Relief From A Broken Pinky Toe in Seattle, Washington? Request an Appointment Now

Don’t let a broken pinky toe cause you to miss out on the activities you enjoy. Complete the contact form on this page or call our office at 206-368-7000 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Berg.

Most new patients are seen within 1-2 week’s time. During your initial visit, Dr. Berg will spend up to 30 minutes getting to know you, your podiatry complaints, and your goals so that he can recommend the treatment best meets your needs. Don’t wait—contact us today.

North Seattle Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr. Rion Berg offers compassionate podiatry care for all foot and ankle problems to those living in Seattle Washington and the surrounding areas. Call us today at 206-368-7000 for an immediate appointment or request an appointment online.

by Dr. Rion Berg

A podiatrist in North Seattle treating families for over 40 years.

How To Buddy-Tape Toes – Injuries; Poisoning

By

James Y. McCue

, MD, University of California San Francisco – Fresno

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2021 | Modified Sep 2022

View Patient Education

Buddy-taping a toe dynamically splints an injured toe to an adjacent, normal toe.

In buddy-taping, a digit that requires immobilization (eg, because of injury or deformity) is attached to an adjacent, unaffected digit, helping to provide alignment and some support and protection.

• Toe sprain, dislocation, or fracture

• Structural toe disorders (eg, hallux limitus)

Absolute contraindications

• Open fracture

Relative contraindications

• Cotton or gauze for padding

• Adhesive tape 1.25 to 2.5 cm (½ to 1 inch)

• Sometimes commercially available toe splint

• Give the patient adequate analgesia.

• Insert cotton padding or gauze between the toes being splinted to prevent skin maceration between the toes.

• Apply tape around both toes to bind the injured toe against the uninjured toe.

• Check distal sensation and capillary refill.

• Supply or prescribe a shoe with a rigid sole (postoperative shoe) to facilitate weight-bearing and ambulation as appropriate.

• Consider crutches if weight-bearing causes significant pain.

• Arrange or recommend appropriate follow-up.

• Have the patient keep the dressing dry to avoid skin breakdown and change the dressing if it becomes wet.

• Have the patient elevate the injured limb above the heart while seated or at rest.

• Have the patient change the tape and gauze every 2 days.

• Tell the patient to apply ice PRICE A fracture is a break in a bone. Most fractures result from a single, significant force applied to normal bone. In addition to fractures, musculoskeletal injuries include Joint dislocations… read more as needed.

NOTE:


This is the Professional Version.


CONSUMERS:



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How to Fix a Broken Little Toe: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

Broken toes are a common injury, especially the little toe (the smallest fifth toe) which is more vulnerable to injury and crushing. While a cast or splint is often required for proper healing of big toe fractures, dealing with a broken little toe often involves a taping technique called “buddy taping” that can be done at home. However, if the broken little finger is really crooked, flattened, or if the bone has pierced the skin, emergency medical attention is required.

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Steps

Part one of 2: Taping a broken toe

1. one Determine if the tape fits. Most toe fractures, including the little toe, are caused by stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the surface of the bone. Stress fractures are often quite painful and include swelling and/or bruising in the forefoot area, but they do not make the bones look twisted, crushed, mangled, or protruding from the skin. Therefore, simple fractures caused by stress or along the hairline should be fixed, although more complex fractures require other medical procedures such as surgery, a cast, or a splint.

   • See your doctor for an X-ray of your foot if the pain does not improve significantly within a few days. Stress fractures can be difficult to see on an x-ray if there is a lot of swelling.
   • If swelling is severe, your doctor may recommend a bone scan to look for a stress fracture.
   • Stress fractures of the little finger can result from exercise (eg, a lot of jogging or aerobics), poor gym technique, injury from being kicked or dropped by something heavy, and severely sprained ankles.

2. 2 Wash your feet and toes. Whenever you are dealing with an injury to the body with some type of support tape, it is best to clear the area first. Cleaning the area will remove bacteria and other micro-organisms that could potentially cause infection (such as fungus), as well as any dirt and debris that might prevent the tape from sticking to your toes. Normal soap and warm water are usually sufficient for washing feet and toes.

   • If you really want to disinfect your toes/feet and remove most of the natural oils, use an alcohol based disinfectant gel or lotion.
   • Be sure to completely dry your toes and the spaces between them before using gauze or tape.

3. 3 Place gauze or felt between your toes. Once you have determined that your little toe is broken but not too bad, then the first step of buddy tape is to put some gauze, felt, or cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe). ). This will prevent skin irritation and possible blistering as the two side toes are taped together. Preventing skin irritation/blistering reduces the risk of infection.

   • Use sterile gauze, felt or cotton balls between the 4th and 5th toes to keep them from falling out before securing them with tape.
   • If your skin is sensitive to medical tape (possibly irritated and itchy from the adhesive), wrap the gauze completely around the 4th and 5th toes and cover as much of the skin as possible before applying the patch.

4. 4 Tie pinky and 4th toes together. After placing sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely fasten the 4th and 5th toes with medical or surgical tape intended for application to the body. This is the buddy tape method as you are essentially using your 4th finger as a splint to support, stabilize and protect your broken little finger. Tape from the base of the fingers to about 1/4 inch from the top of the fingers. Wrap the tape twice in two separate strips so it doesn’t get too tight.

   • A film that is too tight will cut off circulation and give the tips of your toes a purplish blue color. Your toes will also feel numb or tingly if you wrap the tape too tight.
   • Decreased circulation to the toes also slows down the healing process, so be sure to tie the toes together tightly but loosely enough to allow blood to flow normally.
   • If you don’t have medical or surgical tape (available at regular pharmacies), electrical tape, electrician’s tape or small (narrow) velcro tape will also work.
   • Most simple (stress) toe fractures take about 4 weeks to heal properly, so plan on taping most of that time.

5. 5 Change tape and gauze daily. Buddy tying your toes together to support and speed healing is an ongoing process, not a one-time procedure. If you shower or bathe every day, you should re-tape your toes every day because damp gauze or felt is less effective at preventing blistering, and water will begin to dissolve the adhesive on the tape. Thus, remove the old tape and gauze after bathing and use dry gauze or cotton and fresh tape when your feet are clean and dry.

   • If you bathe every other day, you can wait another day to re-glue your toes, unless your feet get wet for some other reason, such as rain or flooding.
   • The use of waterproof medical/surgical tape may reduce the frequent need for re-tape, but every time the gauze/wadding between the toes gets wet (or even wet) you must re-tape it.
   • Remember not to use too much tape (even if it is loose) because you will not be able to place your foot in the shoe correctly. Too much tape also causes overheating and sweating.

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Part 2 of 2: Using Other Home Care Methods for Broken Toes

1. one Use ice or cold therapy. Before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture in your little toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (to prevent frostbite) or a bag of frozen gel on the forefoot. Small bags of frozen vegetables also work well.

   • Apply ice or cold therapy for no more than 20 minutes at a time on the lateral (outer) part of the foot. Use cold therapy 3-5 times a day for the first few days after injury.
   • Wrap an ice pack or gel pack around the forefoot with an elastic bandage for best results as compression also helps reduce swelling.

2. 2 Raise your leg to reduce inflammation. When you apply ice to the lateral surface of the forefoot to combat swelling, it’s also a good idea to keep your foot elevated. Elevating the foot reduces blood flow, which helps minimize inflammation in an injury. If possible, support your leg (before, during, and after icing) so that it is above your heart level for best results.

   • If you are on the couch, use a footstool or some pillows to keep your leg/foot above heart level.
   • Lying in bed, use a pillow, folded blanket, or foam roll to prop your leg up a few extra inches.
   • Always try to lift both feet at the same time so as not to cause pain or irritation in the hips, pelvis and/or lower back.

3. 3 Reduce walking, running and other activities. Another important element of home care for a broken toe is rest and relaxation. In fact, rest with weight off the foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all foot stress fractures. Therefore, avoid the activity that caused the injury and all other resistance exercises (walking, hiking, jogging) that put more stress on the side of the foot for 3-4 weeks.

   • Cycling can still be a good option for exercise and fitness if you can get the pedal closer to the healing area and away from your toes.
   • Swimming is an unloaded exercise suitable for a broken toe after the swelling and pain subside. Don’t forget to rewind your toes afterwards.

4. 4 Take over-the-counter medicines for a short time. Breaking a toe, even if it’s just stress or a hairline fracture, is painful, and pain relief is an important part of the healing process. So, in addition to using cold therapy to relieve pain, consider taking over-the-counter medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or pain relievers such as paracetamol (Tylenol). To minimize the chance of side effects such as stomach irritation, take these medicines for less than 2 weeks daily. For most simple fractures, 3-5 days of medication is sufficient.

   • NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Alev, Naprosyn), and aspirin (Excedrin). NSAIDs are better for broken bones because they suppress swelling, while painkillers do not. However, NSAIDs such as naproxen can slow bone healing, so they should be used with caution.
   • Aspirin should not be given to children while ibuprofen should not be given to infants – stick with paracetamol if your child needs pain relief.

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Community Q&A

Search Add New Question

• Q: Can I sleep with a recorded tape? Yes, but it becomes ineffective after a while, especially if you tend to sweat in your sleep.
• Question How do I know if I have broken my toe? If it swells up and turns blue or purple and causes a lot of pain, then you broke it.
• Question: How long should I wrap a broken toe? You should wrap it up until it stops hurting.
• Question: The doctor says that if I don’t bandage my broken toe properly, I may need ORIF. What should I do? Brian Salazar-Prince Top Answered ORIF – Open Cut and Internal Fixation; Basically, they cut you open, break the bone again, straighten it, and screw or hammer it into place so it can heal properly. If your doctor is willing to wrap the injury for you, I would suggest that you allow him/her to do so to minimize the risk of having to undergo another procedure.
• Question: Can you have a fever if you break your little toe? Brian Salazar-Prince Most popular answerer. When you break a bone, there is usually localized pain with swelling and inflammation. You may find that the area around the injury is warm to the touch, but I wouldn’t expect a broken toe to cause a fever.
• Question Can I cook if my toe is broken? Brian Salazar-Prince Top Answerer Walking with a broken toe is usually normal if you have a splint.
• Q: What should I do if my little finger is too swollen and sore to have gauze between it for a friend to tape over? It’s been 24 hours and it’s still black and blue and it hurts too much to separate the toes. Leave it on and pick it up until the swelling subsides. If this does not happen after a few days, consult a doctor; you may have more than one broken bone.

Unanswered questions

• My toe is purplish blue and has a lump on it. He also became numb after the incident, it’s my little finger and I’m afraid my mom isn’t going to do enough for it. Is it broken and should I see a doctor? Answer

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tips

• Do not tape a broken toe if you have severe diabetes or a problem with peripheral arteries because any reduction in blood flow due to taping may increase the risk of necrosis or tissue death.
• If you go to the doctor for an x-ray to confirm a stress fracture in your little toe, he will likely show you how to tie your toes together before you leave the office.
• While you’re tightening and recovering from a broken little toe, wide-leg shoes with stiff soles for more room and protection. Avoid sandals and sneakers for at least 4 weeks.
• When symptoms go away after about a week, your doctor may want to take another X-ray to see how the bone is healing.
• Uncomplicated bone fractures heal within 4-6 weeks, depending on the person’s health and age.
• After the pain and swelling have subsided (1-2 weeks), gradually increase the amount of exercise you do by getting up and walking a little more each day.

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