Treatments, symptoms, pictures, and healing time

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Treatment for a broken toe typically involves a cast or tape to keep the toe straight and promote healing. Depending on the toe, it may take up to 7 weeks for the fracture to heal.

Although some people believe that they cannot do anything about a broken toe, this is not always the case. In fact, health professionals should evaluate most toe fractures. Untreated broken toes can lead to painful problems later.

Foot fractures are common, so it is a good idea to know the symptoms of a broken toe and when to contact a doctor.

Read on to learn how to recognize and treat a broken toe, the different types of fractures and breaks, healing times, and more.

In most cases, a podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, or family doctor will diagnose a broken toe using a physical exam and an X-ray.

A doctor can often see a displaced fracture with a visual exam of the toe, but they may still recommend an X-ray to assess the damage and determine what treatment the individual needs.

By seeing a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and following instructions about caring for the toe, individuals may encourage the healing process. Treatments for a broken toe include:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE): The RICE method is useful for many types of injuries, including broken toes. It can decrease pain and help the toe heal faster. This may be all a person needs to treat a minor toe fracture.
• Buddy taping: This involves wrapping the toe and taping it to the adjacent toe to keep it supported and protected.
• A post-surgery shoe or boot: These devices have a stiff sole that allows a person to walk without bending the toe. It also helps keep some of the body’s weight off the sore toe.
• Bone setting: For more severe displaced fractures, a doctor may need to put the bones back in their proper place for healing. They would usually do so with numbing medicine to decrease pain.
• Surgery: Surgery may be necessary for more serious toe fractures. Surgeons may need to place a pin in the toe to align the bones and enable them to heal in the right place.
• Antibiotics or a tetanus shot: In some cases, doctors will suggest additional medications in order to prevent infection. This can happen when the skin becomes damaged during the bone break.

People can purchase a selection of ice packs and tape online.

It is important to note that a person should not use ice packs for more than 10 minutes at a time. They should never place them directly onto the skin, as this may cause frostbite.

People should also not wrap the tape around a toe in a circular fashion, as this may constrict the blood supply to the toe and cause permanent injury.

Standard treatment options

As one scientific paper explains, doctors have standard or default treatment options for toe fractures. These vary depending on whether or not the fracture is in the big toe. In all cases, the aim is for the individual to keep their toe as still and straight as possible to better the healing process.

Big toe fractures

Treatment for these fractures is in 2 stages. Doctors will first recommend either a walking boot or a cast, along with a toe plate, for around 2–3 weeks. They will then recommend a rigid-sole shoe for 3–4 weeks.

Fractures in a smaller toe

Doctors will recommend buddy taping and a rigid-sole shoe for 4–6 weeks.

The most common symptoms of broken toes are pain and difficulty walking.

The intensity of these symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people may be able to continue walking on the toe after a break, while others may find the pain debilitating.

Factors that can affect symptoms of a broken toe include:

• the severity of the break
• whether the broken bone has moved out of its proper location or become displaced
• how the bone broke
• where it is broken, including whether it is near a joint
• other medical conditions, such as gout or arthritis

There are a few ways a toe could break. These include stress fractures, falls, and dropping an object on the foot.

Because the symptoms vary so widely and breaks can be mild to severe, many individuals will struggle to tell the difference between a broken toe and another injury, such as a muscle sprain or a bad bruise.

The symptoms of each type of break are as follows:

Traumatic fractures

Painful and significant events, such as falling, stubbing the toe very hard, or dropping an object on the toe, can lead to broken toes. These types of breaks, known as traumatic fractures, are common in athletes.

Traumatic fractures can range from minor to severe. Sometimes, a person hears a “pop” or “crack” sound as the bone breaks, but this is not always the case.

The symptoms of a traumatic fracture will begin immediately after the event and may include:

• pain that does not go away with rest
• throbbing
• bruising
• swelling
• redness

Many traumatic fractures feature a visible bruise that is dark purple, gray, or black.

These symptoms can persist for several weeks if a person does not seek treatment.

Stress fractures

Stress fractures are usually small hairline breaks that occur after repeated stress on the bone. They are a type of overuse injury and often occur in the bones of the legs and feet.

Stress fractures may occur months or years after starting an activity, such as running, that puts stress on the bones.

As a 2021 review explains, stress fractures can occur when muscles in the toe become too weak to absorb impact. Without the support of the muscle, the toe bone becomes vulnerable to pressure and impact. Too much stress on the bone eventually causes it to crack.

Symptoms of a stress fracture in the toe include:

• pain that occurs after activities such as walking or running
• pain that goes away with rest
• soreness or tenderness when touched
• swelling without bruising

Displaced fractures

A displaced fracture means the broken bone has moved out of place. This may occur with more severe traumatic fractures.

As a recent article explains, a displaced fracture in the toe can cause the toe to appear crooked. In some cases, a displaced fracture may break the skin and result in the bone protruding out of a wound.

Healing times for broken toes will no doubt vary from person to person.

However, the average healing time for a big toe fracture will be around 5–7 weeks. For fractures in smaller toes, it will be around 4–6 weeks.

While it is possible for things to go wrong, research shows that only a small proportion of people with broken toes need a surgical follow-up.

Sprains differ from fractures in that the former affects muscles and ligaments.

A sprained toe arises when there is an injury to the muscles and ligaments in the toe. But although sprained toes and fractured toes are rather different, a recent review makes it clear that their symptoms can be similar.

Symptoms of sprained toes include:

• pain
• swelling
• difficulty walking

Sprained toes can take around 4–6 weeks to heal. As with broken toes, R.I.C.E and stiff-soled shoes are a mainstay of sprained toe therapy.

As a 2017 article explains, different kinds of toe fractures have some common complications:

• Sesamoid fracture: Sesamoids are small bones at the base of the big toe. Sesamoid fractures may have difficulty healing, causing long-term pain and negatively impacting athletic performance.
• Hallux fractures: Hallux fractures are fractures of the big toe proper. They can cause deformities of the foot and big toe. These fractures may also reduce a person’s range of motion in their big toe, leading to long term difficulties walking.
• Surgery: Surgical interventions to treat toe fractures may cause nerve damage and lead to infection.
• Cartilage injury: If a fracture enters into a joint, this can injure the cartilage and lead to deformity and traumatic osteoarthritis of the joint.

Injuries and accidents are not always avoidable, but the following steps may help minimize the risk of breaking a toe:

• Avoid wearing non-supportive shoes, such as flip-flops: Flip-flops offer little support to the foot, which can cause unnecessary strain on the muscles and bones. A person wearing such shoes may easily stub their toe. Additionally, these shoes offer no protection for the toes during a fall.
• Replace footwear when the soles begin to wear out: When shoe soles become worn and smooth, a person may fall or trip more easily. This could lead to a toe injury. Examining the bottom of shoes regularly to look for signs of wear may help.
• Exercise: A 2020 review found that regular exercise can reduce the risk of a fall in people aged 65 and over. Falls can cause injuries to the toes, including fractures.
• Manage diabetes: People with diabetes are at risk of neuropathy, which damages the nerves in the feet. This can lead to balance problems, more falls, and injuries to the feet that take longer to heal. Indeed, the National Health Service (NHS) notes that foot problems, in general, can be worse for people with diabetes.

Broken toes are often able to heal on their own. Nevertheless, it is best to contact a healthcare professional for the correct treatment to ensure the bone heals properly.

Proper medical care ensures that a minor break now does not lead to a significant issue later.

There are several different types of breaks a person may incur to the toes. Common causes of broken toes include trauma from sporting injures, stubbing the toes, and tripping and falling.

Treatment and healing time for a broken toe will vary depending on the cause and severity of the break.

Anyone who thinks they may have sprained or broken a toe should seek medical attention to ensure that the break heals properly and does not cause long lasting problems due to incorrectly healing.

Can You Do Anything to Fix a Broken Toe?

Summit Orthopedics foot and ankle surgeon Samuel Russ, M.D., discusses the options available to help broken toes heal.

You’re walking around your house barefoot, and you stub your toe against a heavy piece of furniture. Or maybe you’re juggling bags full of groceries and drop a heavy jar on your toe. Or maybe you’re playing a casual, backyard game of soccer with your kids — while wearing flip-flops — and you kick the ball just the wrong way. There are a thousand ways to do it, but many people know the pain of this common orthopedic injury: a broken toe.

Symptoms of a broken toe

Symptoms of a broken toe include severe pain, bruising, swelling, discoloration of the toenail, difficulty walking, and a crooked appearance. We caught up with Summit Orthopedics foot and ankle surgeon Samuel Russ, M.D., to learn more about broken toes and the treatment options available.

Breaking the big toe

The first thing to know, according to Dr. Russ, is that not all toes are created equal. “The big toe is the most important for bearing weight and walking,” he said. “The rest of the toes are much less important.”

The most common ways to break your big toe are by dropping something on it or stubbing it, most often by kicking something. Because the big toe is a key part of how you balance on your feet when walking, proper treatment is important.

“With the big toe, we’ll be more aggressive with treatment,” Dr. Russ said. Treatment options depend on the exact nature of the break. In some cases, the broken bones will no longer be aligned with each other (a situation called “displacement”). In those instances, a doctor might numb the toe and pull the toe back into alignment before immobilizing it with a brace, splint, or cast so that it can heal.

More severe breaks may require surgery so that they will heal properly. “For a very severe break, we might choose to fuse the joints of the big toe,” resulting in more stability but less flexibility in the toe, Dr. Russ said.

A broken toe among the “little toes”

If you’ve broken a toe other than the big toe, it’s a different story. “Very rarely do broken lesser toes need intervention,” Dr. Russ said.

If you suspect that your toe is broken, it’s smart to get evaluated by an orthopedic specialist. “We recommend that people who think they have broken a toe be seen to verify the diagnosis and make sure nothing needs to be done,” Dr. Russ said.

In most cases, the approach toward a broken lesser toe is focused on treating the symptoms of pain, bruising, and swelling. Dr. Russ recommends walking in a stiff-soled shoe for a few weeks, while the toe heals.

If the broken toe is pointing in the wrong direction, a simple office-based procedure can put it back into alignment. Buddy taping — taping the broken toe to the one next to it using medical tape – can help keep the toes straight and provide a little extra support.

In rare cases, surgery might be needed. “If it’s really smashed, very rarely we will do surgery to hold the bones in place with a pin,” Dr. Russ said.

One more thing to keep in mind, according to Dr. Russ: broken toes hurt, and the pain can last for a long time. “If you break your toe, or even stub it, it can take a really long time to become pain-free — up to six months after the break, even when the bone has healed,” he said. “It can swell and be very sore, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. ”

He encourages people to see their Summit specialist with any concerns about a potentially broken toe or the healing process.

Summit Orthopedics offers personalized foot and ankle expertise

Our fellowship-trained foot and ankle physicians understand that your mobility depends on the health of your feet and ankles. Summit Orthopedics specialists have the expertise to evaluate your discomfort and develop a plan to quickly and safely get you back on your feet and on your way.

Start your journey to optimal foot health. Find your foot and ankle expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

More resources for you:

• Check out this video on barefoot running.
• Find out about the connection between foot health and overall health.
• Learn about the benefits of physical therapy for foot pain.
• What is Flatfoot?
• Read about Summit’s foot and ankle care.
• How Can I Avoid Developing Foot Problems?

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How to Tape Your Fingers in 9 Steps (with Pictures)

Buddy Tape is a useful and easy method for treating sprains, sprains, and broken fingers and toes. Buddy taping is commonly practiced by healthcare professionals such as sports doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and athletic trainers, but it can be easily performed by non-professionals at home as well. When done correctly, duct tape provides support, protection, and helps realign damaged joints.

steps

Part one of 2: A friend glues the injured fingers together

1. one Identify the injured finger. Fingers are very susceptible to injury and even break with blunt trauma such as being hit in a door or pinched during contact sports. In most cases, it’s obvious which finger is injured (the one that hurts the most), but sometimes you need to take a close look at your hand and fingers to better understand the injury. Signs of mild to moderate musculoskeletal injury include redness, swelling, inflammation, localized pain, bruising, reduced movement, and possibly some degree of twisting if your finger is dislocated or broken.

   • Buddy tape can be used for most finger injuries, even some stress (hair) fractures, although more severe displaced fractures usually require splinting, a cast, or surgery.
   • Minor stress fractures, bone chips, contusions (bruising), and joint sprains are not considered serious problems, but severely crushed fingers (crippled and bleeding) or displaced compound fractures (bleeding with bone protruding from the skin) require immediate medical attention, especially if involved thumb.

2. 2 Decide which fingers to tape. Once you have established which finger is damaged, you need to decide which adjacent finger to attach it to. In general, try to tape the closest fingers in length. The index and second fingers are usually used in pairs for taping, while the third and fourth fingers are usually best taped together. Your thumb, due to its location and range of motion, cannot be attached to your index finger, so when severely sprained or fractured, it is often broken or tied. Also, make sure the buddy’s finger isn’t damaged, as joining two damaged fingers together can create more problems.

   • If your third finger (ring finger) is injured, you have the option of having it glued to your second or ring finger. Choose a finger of the same length, but for greater stability, the ring finger should be attached to the middle finger.

3. 3 Prepare fingers for gluing. Once you have decided which two fingers to put together, prepare your finger for writing. Start by washing your hands with soap and water, and then specifically clean the fingers to be glued on with alcohol wipes. The alcohol in the wipes (isopropyl alcohol) is not only a good antiseptic but also gets rid of any oily or greasy residue that might prevent the tape from sticking to your skin. If you have particularly sensitive skin, use a hypoallergenic or slightly irritating film under the tape.

   • If alcohol wipes are not available, the next best alternative is plain soap and water.

4. 4 Glue fingers together. After you have cleaned and prepared your fingers, take non-stretch medical, surgical, or athletic tape (about an inch wide) and attach the injured finger to the uninjured one – perhaps using a figure-of-eight pattern for greater stability. Be careful not to bind your fingers too tightly, as this can cause additional swelling and even cut off circulation, leading to tissue death (necrosis). The tape should be secure enough that both fingers move together. Check for numbness, pulsation, discoloration, or loss of sensation in any of the fingers after taping.

   • Be careful tying your fingers together if you have diabetes, circulatory problems, or peripheral arterial disease, mate, because any significant reduction in circulation (due to too tight tape) increases the risk of necrosis.
   • Place a thin strip of foam rubber or cotton gauze between your fingers for comfort, protection and to prevent abrasions and/or blisters.
   • Be aware that the risk of bacterial infection is greatly increased by blistering and abrasions on the surface of the skin.
   • Materials used for tying fingers include non-elastic medical/surgical paper tape, self-adhesive tape, duct tape, small Velcro, and rubber bandages.
   • To provide additional support (useful for sprained fingers), use wood or metal tape along with the tape. Popsicle sticks work really well too, just make sure there are no sharp edges that can dig into your skin.

5. 5 See a doctor for an evaluation. If an injury is severe enough to be recorded on tape, it is severe enough to be assessed. Once your finger has stabilized, you should see a doctor for a more complete examination. You will likely need an x-ray to make sure you don’t have a major fracture or other injury.

   • As a last resort, use the buddy bonding method until you seek medical attention, but not use it instead of seeking medical attention.
   • If you are in pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Try acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

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Part 2 of 2: How to avoid possible complications

1. one Change the tape regularly. If your doctor or other health worker initially taped your fingers, they most likely used waterproof tape so that you can safely wash your hands and shower at least once. However, as a general rule, be prepared to wrap your fingers with duct tape daily, especially if you frequently shower or wash your hands. Damp or damp tape and dressings promote the growth of bacteria and mold, which produce a foul odor and increase the risk of skin infection.

   • Care must be taken when removing the tape to avoid aggravating injury or skin damage. Use blunt scissors to cut the tape and then slowly remove it.
   • If your injured finger hurts more after reapplying the tape, remove the tape and start over, but make sure it’s loosened up a bit. This is also a sign that you should seek medical attention.
   • Your injured finger, depending on the severity, may require up to four weeks of bracing to heal properly, so you will likely gain a lot of experience with re-shoots.

2. 2 Check for signs of infection. This step is very important. Before regularly reapplying the tape, check your fingers and the rest of your hand for signs of skin irritation or infection. Abrasions, blisters, and calluses increase the chance of a skin infection, so clean and dry your fingers thoroughly before re-sticking them. Wash your hands with soap and water.

   • Signs of a local skin infection include local swelling, redness, throbbing pain, and pus discharge that may produce a foul odor.
   • If a skin infection is suspected, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

3. 3 Watch out for signs of necrosis. As mentioned above, necrosis is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood and oxygen. An injured finger, especially a dislocation or fracture, may already involve damaged blood vessels, so you need to be especially careful when taping so as not to cut off blood circulation in the fingers. If you do this unintentionally, your fingers will most likely begin to throb with aching pain and turn dark red and then dark blue. Most tissues can survive without oxygen for a few hours (maximum), but it’s important to keep a close eye on your fingers for 30 minutes or so to make sure they’re getting enough blood.

   • Diabetics often have less sensation in their hands (and feet) and tend to have poor circulation. Diabetics should avoid taping and be examined by a doctor, as the risk of infection is high.
   • If necrosis of the fingers does occur, a bacterial infection can develop quickly. Left untreated, bacterial infections can progress to gangrene and require amputation surgery to keep infections from spreading.
   • If you have experienced an open compound finger fracture (bone protruding from the skin), your doctor may recommend a two-week course of oral antibiotics to prevent a bacterial infection.

4. 4 Do not glue a severely broken finger. While most finger injuries respond well to taping, some go beyond this. For example, when the fingers are crushed and completely crushed (called a comminuted fracture) or broken so that the bones are radically displaced and protrude through the skin (called an open compound fracture), then no amount of tape helps and should not even count. Instead, with severe and unstable fractures, you need to quickly get to the emergency room for more appropriate medical attention (probably an invasive surgical procedure). On the other hand, small fractures along the hairline (stress) are stable, and it is advisable to fix them until you see a doctor.

   • Common symptoms of a badly broken finger include: severe sharp pain, swelling, stiffness, and usually immediate bruising due to internal bleeding. Most likely, your finger will look somewhat crooked, and it will be very difficult to make a fist or hold something heavy without severe pain.
   • Broken fingers may be associated with bone-weakening conditions such as cancer (bone tumors), local infections, osteoporosis (brittle bones), or chronic diabetes.

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Community Q&A

Search Add New Question

• Q: How long does it take for a pinched finger to heal? Jonas DeMuro, MD
  Dr. DeMuro is a Board Certified Pediatric Surgeon in New York City. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed a Fellowship in Surgical Resuscitation from the Jewish Health System of North Shore and Long Island, and was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Jonas DeMuro, MD Board Certified Surgeon Critical Care Specialist’s Response While everyone is different, this type of injury usually takes four to six weeks to heal. Your doctor can provide more specific information after diagnosing your problem.
• Q: I bent my little finger back when I caught the soccer ball. The knuckles on my ring finger and little finger were swollen and bruised. Could it have been broken? Most likely, just in case, go to the doctor. You could also simply damage the tissues due to the force caused by the grip on the ball.
• Question Which finger should I attach my thumb to? You can’t glue a broken thumb together. Because of their position and range of motion, the healthcare worker has splinted or applied broken or severely dislocated fingers.
• Question Which finger should I attach my index finger/forefinger to? This should be your middle finger, as your thumb is too small to properly support.
• Question: What kind of tape should I buy to write on the fingers of a 10 year old child? Get surgical tape or a first aid bandage.
• Question: Should a bruised finger be covered? You can if you really want to. If you feel like it would be more supported with tape then yes, but otherwise let it get strong on its own again.
• Question Which finger would I attach my ring finger to? Glue it to the middle finger; However, it also depends on the severity of the injury, so be sure to tape your little finger.
• Q: I injured my ring finger while playing basketball and the school nurse told me it wasn’t broken but attached it to my little finger. Should I see a doctor? If it looks broken or doesn’t get better within a week, yes it does. However, for more stability, you need to attach it to your middle finger.
• Question What do I attach my middle finger to? It’s most likely your ring finger, since your ring finger shouldn’t move as much as your other finger. If you want to heal properly, you must keep the injured finger from bending as much as possible, and the index finger does most of the work.
• Q: I injured my little finger by hitting it directly on a hard surface. Is it better to glue the ring finger to the little finger than to put it on the splint? Since the length is so different, buddy, sticking your pinky to your ring finger is not a good idea. Splinting would be ideal because you are sure that the finger will not hurt.

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What to do if the nail is broken under the root, on the side and it hurts

May 6, 2022 at 2:05 AM

Any awkward movement can lead to breakage of the nail. Such a situation is unpleasant for every woman. However, this is not the time to despair – it is time to act.

What to do if the natural nail plate is broken?

The best option is to contact a nail technician. The specialist will definitely be able to reanimate the nail if the breakage does not exceed 1/3 of its length. If you can’t go to the salon, you can do home repairs yourself. You should always start with removing varnish with an ammonia-free product, disinfecting hands and polishing with a buff. The surface is sanded to eliminate all irregularities. The choice of gluing technology depends on the location of the breakage and its size:

• To repair side crack , you need biogel or a special adhesive for silk. It can be replaced by a medical adhesive. From silk, linen or artificial fiberglass, you need to cut a patch, the edges of which will protrude a couple of millimeters. Lubricate the flap with glue and attach to the crack. Irregularities can be straightened with a toothpick. The adhesive dries on its own. Biogel must be dried in a UV lamp for 1 minute. The gluing procedure is repeated twice, after which the surface must be sanded again and coated with decorative varnish.
• The break in the center can simply be filed if there is a long free edge. When the crack in the middle borders on soft tissue, filing will cause pain and more damage. In this regard, it is safer to use a transparent square-shaped acrylic tip. On the inside of the device, you need to apply special glue for tips and press the acrylic part to the nail. After complete drying, use a nail file to shape the plate.
• In case of root break , the remaining free edge must be carefully cut with nail scissors. If the wound is bleeding, first apply a sterile bandage, and then release your finger into cold water for 15 minutes. Take hot saline baths three times a day. After water procedures, a bandage with antibacterial ointment should be applied to the wound. This will prevent the development of infection. The injury should be treated until complete healing. Apply oil to the hole to accelerate the growth of nails.

Before starting work, prepare everything you need to avoid distractions during repairs.

Actions in case of breakage of the extended nail

You can restore a manicure at home by analogy with the method with natural tissue. If there is no natural fabric at hand, use a cut from a tea bag. You can dock and glue the broken free edge using ordinary superglue. The inside of the extended nail is covered with a top coat, dried in a UV lamp. Next, use any synthetic instant adhesive. The composition is applied three times. The surface should be covered with a top coat and dried well.

If a crack has damaged the natural plate or the nail has broken to the bone, remove the artificial coating with a softener without aggressive acetone, clean the finger and apply a sterile bandage. Other methods for breaking an extended nail.