What are the symptoms of a broken pinky toe. How can you treat a broken pinky toe at home. When should you see a doctor for a broken pinky toe. Can you still go hiking with a broken pinky toe. What are the best shoes to wear with a broken pinky toe.

Understanding Broken Pinky Toes: Causes and Symptoms

A broken pinky toe, also known as a fractured fifth toe, is a common injury that can occur unexpectedly, often when preparing for outdoor activities like hiking or camping. The most frequent cause is accidentally striking the toe against a hard object, which may result in a distinctive cracking sound.

Recognizing the symptoms of a broken pinky toe is crucial for proper treatment. These may include:

• Swelling
• Bruising (black and blue discoloration)
• Pain, especially when walking or applying pressure
• Difficulty moving the toe
• Misalignment or deformity in severe cases

Is it possible to differentiate between a broken and a bruised pinky toe. While both conditions share similar symptoms, a broken toe often causes more intense pain and may exhibit visible deformity. However, only a medical professional can provide a definitive diagnosis, typically through X-ray imaging.

Immediate First Aid for a Suspected Broken Pinky Toe

If you suspect you’ve broken your pinky toe, taking immediate action can help alleviate pain and prevent further damage. Here are some first aid steps to follow:

1. Rest: Avoid putting weight on the affected foot
2. Ice: Apply ice packs for 15-20 minutes every 1-2 hours to reduce swelling
3. Compression: Gently wrap the toe with an elastic bandage
4. Elevation: Keep the foot elevated above heart level when possible

Can you treat a broken pinky toe at home. While minor fractures can often be managed at home, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment guidance, especially if you plan to engage in physical activities like hiking or camping.

Professional Treatment Options for Broken Pinky Toes

When seeking medical attention for a broken pinky toe, a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist will assess the injury and recommend appropriate treatment. The primary goals are to promote healing, alleviate pain, and prevent complications.

Buddy Taping Technique

One of the most common treatments for a broken pinky toe is the buddy taping technique. This method involves:

1. Cleaning and drying the affected toe and adjacent toe
2. Placing a small piece of gauze or cotton between the toes to prevent skin irritation
3. Using medical tape or a specialized self-adhesive wrap (like CoFlex or Coban) to secure the injured toe to its neighboring toe
4. Extending the taping to include the third toe for additional stability, if necessary

How long should you keep a broken pinky toe buddy taped. Typically, buddy taping is recommended for 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the fracture. Your doctor will provide specific instructions based on your individual case.

Immobilization and Protection

In addition to buddy taping, your doctor may recommend further immobilization and protection measures, such as:

• Wearing a postoperative surgical sandal or specialized boot
• Using crutches or a cane to minimize weight-bearing on the affected foot
• Applying a rigid or semi-rigid splint in more severe cases

Navigating Outdoor Activities with a Broken Pinky Toe

For outdoor enthusiasts, a broken pinky toe doesn’t necessarily mean canceling all plans. However, it’s crucial to adjust your activities and take proper precautions to ensure safe healing.

Choosing Appropriate Footwear

Selecting the right footwear is essential when dealing with a broken pinky toe, especially if you plan to engage in outdoor activities. Here are some guidelines:

• Avoid flip-flops or open-toed shoes that provide minimal protection
• Opt for shoes with a wide toe box to accommodate swelling
• Choose footwear with minimal flex in the sole to reduce toe movement
• Consider lightweight hiking shoes or boots that provide ankle support for added stability

What are the best shoes to wear with a broken pinky toe while hiking. Lightweight hiking boots with ankle support and a stiff sole are often recommended, as they provide protection and stability while minimizing toe flexion.

Modifying Your Outdoor Plans

While it’s possible to enjoy some outdoor activities with a broken pinky toe, it’s important to modify your plans to accommodate your injury:

• Choose less strenuous trails with even terrain
• Reduce your hiking distance and pace
• Take frequent breaks to rest and elevate your foot
• Consider camp-based activities that don’t require extensive walking
• Use trekking poles for added stability and to reduce pressure on your feet

Is it safe to go camping with a broken pinky toe. Camping can be safe with a broken pinky toe if you take appropriate precautions, choose accessible campsites, and prioritize rest and elevation when possible.

Recovery and Rehabilitation for Broken Pinky Toes

Proper recovery and rehabilitation are crucial for ensuring optimal healing of a broken pinky toe and preventing long-term complications. Here’s what you need to know about the recovery process:

Estimated Healing Time

The healing time for a broken pinky toe can vary depending on the severity of the fracture and individual factors. Generally, you can expect:

• 2-3 weeks for minor fractures
• 4-6 weeks for more severe breaks
• Up to 8 weeks for complete bone healing

How long does it take to fully recover from a broken pinky toe. While the bone may heal within 4-8 weeks, full recovery, including the return of normal strength and flexibility, can take several months.

Gradual Return to Activities

As your toe heals, you can gradually reintroduce activities and increase weight-bearing. Follow these guidelines:

1. Begin with short walks on even surfaces
2. Slowly increase walking distance and duration as pain allows
3. Introduce low-impact exercises like swimming or stationary cycling
4. Gradually return to more strenuous activities under your doctor’s guidance

Rehabilitation Exercises

Once your doctor gives you the green light, incorporate these exercises to improve flexibility and strength:

• Toe flexion and extension exercises
• Marble pickup exercises to improve dexterity
• Towel scrunches with your toes
• Gentle resistance band exercises for the foot and ankle

Preventing Future Toe Injuries During Outdoor Activities

While accidents can happen, there are several steps you can take to minimize the risk of toe injuries during hiking, camping, and other outdoor pursuits:

• Wear properly fitting, supportive footwear designed for your activity
• Use moisture-wicking socks to prevent blisters and reduce friction
• Trim toenails regularly to prevent ingrown nails and discomfort
• Be mindful of your surroundings and watch for obstacles on trails
• Use trekking poles to improve balance and reduce the load on your feet
• Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities

How can you protect your toes while hiking on rocky terrain. Opt for hiking boots with reinforced toe boxes, use trekking poles for added stability, and maintain awareness of foot placement on uneven surfaces.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Toe Injury

While many broken pinky toes can be treated at home, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention. Seek professional help if you experience:

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with home treatment
• Visible deformity or misalignment of the toe
• Numbness or tingling in the toe
• Signs of infection, such as increased redness, warmth, or pus
• Difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected foot
• Persistent swelling that doesn’t improve with elevation and ice

Should you go to the emergency room for a broken pinky toe. While most broken pinky toes don’t require emergency care, severe pain, open fractures, or signs of infection warrant immediate medical attention.

Diagnostic Procedures

When you visit a healthcare provider for a suspected broken pinky toe, they may perform the following diagnostic procedures:

• Physical examination to assess pain, swelling, and range of motion
• X-rays to confirm the presence and severity of a fracture
• In some cases, CT scans or MRIs for more detailed imaging

By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for broken pinky toes, outdoor enthusiasts can make informed decisions about their activities and ensure proper healing. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment, especially if you plan to continue with outdoor pursuits while recovering from a toe injury.

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.

Toe Injury in Kids | Children’s Hospital Colorado

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• Injuries to toes

Types of Toe Injuries

• Cuts, Scrapes and Bruises. These are the most common injuries.
• Jammed Toe. The end of a straightened toe receives a blow. This is usually from stubbing the toe on an object. The energy is absorbed by the joint surface and the injury occurs there. This is called traumatic arthritis.
• Crushed or Smashed Toe. This is usually from something heavy falling on the toe. Sometimes, the nail can be damaged. Fractures are unusual, but are at risk for a bone infection (osteomyelitis).
• Toenail Injury. If the nailbed is cut, it may need sutures to prevent a permanently deformed nail. This is less important for toenails.
• Subungual Hematoma (Blood Clot under the Nail). Most often caused by a crush injury. It can be from a heavy object falling on the nailbed. Many are only mildly painful. Some are severely painful and throbbing. These need the pressure under the nail released. A doctor can put a small hole through the nail to release the blood. This can relieve the pain and prevent loss of the nail.
• Dislocations. The toe has been pushed out of its joint.
• Fractures. Toe has a broken bone. The treatment is the same whether the toe is broken or just bruised. Broken toes are not put in a cast.

Concerns About Missing a Broken Toe

• Most swollen, bruised and painful toes are not broken.
• X-rays are only needed for severe pain and severe injuries.
• If the big toe might be broken, it should be seen by a doctor. The other injured toes generally don’t need to be seen.
• A broken great toe is not urgent. It can be checked during office hours.
• The treatment is the same whether or not the toe is broken.
• The treatment of all broken toes is pain medicine and comfortable footwear.

Pain Scale

• Mild: Your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities. School, play and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: The pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep.
• Severe: The pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities.

Go to ER Now

• Bleeding that won’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
• Large swelling is present
• Blood under a nail is causing more than mild pain
• Nail is torn
• Base of nail has popped out from under the skin fold
• Dirt in the wound is not gone after 15 minutes of scrubbing
• Skin or nail is cut and No past tetanus shots. Note: tetanus is the “T” in DTaP, TdaP, or Td vaccines.
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• Age less than 1 year old
• Age less than 2 years and toe tourniquet suspected. (Hair wrapped around toe, groove, swollen red or bluish toe)
• You think your child has a serious injury
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Broken toe suspected
• Toe injury that causes bad limp
• Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot in more than 5 years
• Clean cut and no tetanus shot in more than 10 years
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Pain not better after 3 days
• Not using the toe normally after 2 weeks
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Minor toe injury

Care Advice for Minor Toe Injuries

1. What You Should Know About Toe Injuries:
   • There are many ways that children can hurt their toes.
   • There are also many types of toe injuries.
   • You can treat minor toe injuries at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
3. Bruised/Swollen Toe:
   • Soak in cold water for 20 minutes.
   • Repeat as needed.
4. Small Cuts or Scratches:
   • For any bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound. Use a gauze pad or clean cloth. Press down firmly on the place that is bleeding for 10 minutes. This is the best way to stop bleeding. Keep using pressure until the bleeding stops.
   • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.
   • For any dirt in the wound, scrub gently.
   • For any cuts, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
   • Cover it with a bandage (such as Band-Aid). Change daily.
5. Jammed Toe:
   • Caution: Be certain range of motion is normal. Your child should be able to bend and straighten each toe. If movement is limited, your doctor must check for a broken bone.
   • Soak the foot in cold water for 20 minutes.
   • If the pain is more than mild, “buddy-tape” it to the next toe.
6. Smashed or Crushed Toe:
   • Wash the toe with soap and water for 5 minutes.
   • For any cuts, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
   • Cover it with a bandage (such as Band-Aid). Change daily.
7. Torn Nail (from catching it on something):
   • For a cracked nail without rough edges, leave it alone.
   • For a large flap of nail that’s almost torn through, cut it off. Use a pair of scissors that have been cleaned. Cut along the line of the tear. Reason: Pieces of nail taped in place will catch on objects.
   • Soak the toe for 20 minutes in cold water for pain relief.
   • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then cover with a bandage (such as Band-Aid). Change daily.
   • After about 7 days, the nailbed should be covered by new skin. It should no longer hurt. A new nail will grow in over 6 to 8 weeks.
8. Remove Ring:
   • Remove any ring that is on an injured toe.
   • Reason: swelling may occur.
9. Shoes to Reduce Pain:
   • If regular shoes cause too much pain, make a change in footwear.
   • Wear a shoe with a firm sole to limit motion. Reason: Injured toes hurt when they bend (are flexed).
   • If the top of the shoe increases pain, wear an open-toe sandal. Another option is to use an old sneaker. Then cut out the part over the toe.
10. Buddy-taping:
    • Buddy-taping is taping the injured toe to the one next to it.
    • Method: Gauze padding must be placed between the toes before taping them together.
    • How long to buddy tape: Usually needed for 1 – 2 weeks. By then new bone formation will close the break. Then pain with movement will be reduced.
    • Usefulness: Buddy-taping is optional. Sometimes, it makes the pain worse. Wearing the right shoe is much more helpful.
11. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Pain becomes severe
    • Pain not better after 3 days
    • Toe not normal after 2 weeks
    • You think your child needs to be seen
    • Your child becomes worse

Care Advice for Minor Toe Injuries

• Apply direct pressure to the entire wound with a sterile gauze dressing or a clean cloth. Once the bleeding has stopped, cover with an adhesive bandage or gauze.

Copyright 2000-2023. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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90,000 symptoms and treatment Such cases are quite common. Sometimes the blow is insignificant, and the discomfort quickly passes. But with strong blows, a bruise or even a fracture of the little finger on the leg is possible.

Causes

The little finger has a complex structure, but is very fragile, so injuries, bruises and fractures of this part of the body are not such a rare occurrence. You can break a finger by inadvertently twisting your leg, during outdoor games (for example, playing football), stumbling, dropping a heavy object on your leg. Most often, such injuries are characteristic of older people due to the fragility of their bone tissue. A fracture of the little finger on the leg often occurs due to certain diseases in which the strength properties of the bones change. These diseases include osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, hyperparathyroidism, as well as various tumor and tuberculosis processes.

Types of fractures

Fracture of the little toe can be open or closed, with or without displacement, complete or incomplete, complex or simple, intra-articular. When open, the bone protrudes outward, the skin is damaged, in contrast to the closed one, when no tissue rupture is observed.

A displaced fracture is characterized by the displacement of bone fragments from their place.
With a complete fracture, the bone parts move away from each other, with an incomplete fracture, cracks or fractures of the bone are formed.

If one phalanx is damaged, the fracture is considered simple. With a complex fracture, the finger is broken in several places, the bone may be crushed. Treatment in this case is longer and more complicated.

An intra-articular fracture occurs when a blow hits a joint directly and breaks its integrity. The treatment will be special.

Symptoms

Fracture of the little finger on the leg, the symptoms of which appear immediately, is manifested by sharp, throbbing and penetrating pain that does not stop for a long time, the presence of a hematoma, the inability to move the finger without severe pain, hemorrhage under the skin, impaired mobility of the injured part of the body, the appearance crunch on palpation, unnatural location of the finger, swelling, which can pass to the foot.

If the phalanx is broken, the finger becomes deformed, there is severe swelling and sharp pain, the little finger cannot be bent.

A fracture of the little toe, the symptoms of which are described above, is a cause for immediate medical attention.

First aid for a fracture

If you cannot see a doctor right away, you must do everything possible to avoid unpleasant consequences in the future. First of all, it is important to limit the load on the affected limb, in the presence of bleeding, it is necessary to stop the blood, after which the wound is washed and treated with alcohol. To relieve swelling, you can apply a cold compress for 15-20 minutes. The injured little finger must be fixed by bandaging it to the adjacent finger. The foot should be kept elevated. If the pain is severe, you need to take painkillers.

Diagnosis

A toe fracture is diagnosed based on the patient’s complaints. It is easier to do this in the presence of relative and absolute symptoms. An X-ray examination is required to make an accurate diagnosis.

How to treat

A broken little toe is a more serious injury than a broken toe. The damaged little finger of the hand usually fuses itself, it does not cause any particular discomfort.

The treatment for an injury to the little toe depends on the type and severity of the fracture. In any case, it is necessary to start with anesthesia. If there is a wound, it must be disinfected. The victim is given an antibiotic solution to prevent infection. After that, plaster is applied.

If there is a closed fracture of the little toe, treatment may be conservative. Painkillers are prescribed, the little finger must be completely immobilized. In the presence of displacement, plaster is applied to the entire foot. Modern medicine uses synthetic material for this purpose – scotchcast.

If a fracture of the nail phalanx is found, it may be necessary to perforate the nail plate (if blood accumulates under it). With this type of fracture, gypsum is not applied. The little finger is fixed to the fourth finger with a plaster for two weeks.

If the middle or main phalanx is damaged, the doctor applies a plantar plaster splint, which is removed after a month and a half.

In case of a compound fracture with displacement, an open reposition of the bones of the little finger is performed. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

If there has been an intra-articular fracture of the little toe, the treatment will be more serious, sometimes surgery is necessary. After open reposition of the elements of the crushed bone, the joint is fixed with pins.

Additional difficulties arise due to the fact that complete immobility is necessary for the restoration of an injured finger, but the functions of the cartilaginous surface of the joint are lost. Therefore, after two weeks, you need to start developing the joint.

Treatment should begin immediately for an injury such as a broken little toe. How long does it take for an injured finger to heal? This question often interests the affected person. The damaged bone heals completely in two months in the absence of complications. The recovery process can be delayed with illiterate treatment, non-compliance with medical recommendations.

During the entire treatment period, the foot must remain motionless, stepping on it is prohibited. It is advisable to keep the injured limb elevated.

Rehabilitation after a fracture

The use of physiotherapy, therapeutic massage and gymnastics, vitamin injections helps to speed up the healing process. At the intersection of nerve endings, neurostimulation is used. The rehabilitation process depends on the severity of the injury and can take up to six months.

Negative consequences

With any injury, there is a risk of complications. If the little finger is damaged, it is possible to develop a hematoma under the nail, chronic arthrosis, the appearance of pain some time after the end of treatment, displacement of the finger, and discomfort while walking.

But how to distinguish a fracture of the little toe from a bruise? This is a difficult task, especially if there is no displacement of the bones. Symptoms in both cases are the same, which makes diagnosis difficult.

There are some rules:

– if there is no sharp pain when tapping the fingertip, it is most likely a bruise;
– a completely immobile finger is not yet a sign of a bone fracture, this condition can be observed if there has been a severe bruise of the soft tissues;
– If you suspect a fracture, you should take an X-ray of your finger.

Having discovered signs of a fracture of the little toe on the leg, it is necessary to contact an experienced traumatologist in order to avoid complications. Untimely or incorrect treatment, as well as its absence, can cause acute inflammation of the finger, which often results in osteomyelitis and even amputation. In addition, bone tissues may not grow together correctly, a false joint may form, and the little finger may be bent, which will negatively affect a person’s gait, his endurance and overall health.

Symptoms and principles of treatment of fractures of extremities by traditional medicine methods – clinic “Dobrobut”

Fractures of arms and legs – general principles of treatment of fractures of extremities

Fractures of arms and legs occupy the first place in the statistics of serious injuries. And this is not surprising, because these parts are more mobile and more used in a given situation. Falls are the most common cause of injury in winter. The tactics of treating limb fractures directly depend on many factors, and the consequences of this type of injury depend on the fulfillment of medical prescriptions.

Signs of fractured limbs

Most of these injuries manifest themselves in the same way:

• pain;
• edema;
• deformation;
• abnormal mobility;
• function violation.

Pain and dysfunction occur immediately at the time of injury. Pain may be mild at first, even with significant damage. This is due to the release of endorphins – natural analgesic substances. After a short time, their number decreases and the pain becomes maximum.

Edema increases gradually. Initially, it is localized only at the point of impact (if it was applied), but later spreads above and below the injury site.

Pathological mobility appears with a complete fracture of the bone body. In this case, the bone fragments are displaced relative to each other at the fracture site.

Deformity is noted in cases of displacement of parts of a broken bone from the normal axis.

Signs of a fracture of the bones of the hands

The hands consist of 27 bones. Among the carpal bones, the scaphoid is most often affected, less often the lunate. The symptoms of a broken hand are pain, swelling, and dysfunction.

With injuries of the metacarpal bones and fingers, which account for 2.5% and 5% of all fractures, all of these signs are noted.

Symptoms of a fracture of the bones of the shoulder and forearm

The most common is the so-called fracture of the radius of a typical localization. There is one place on this bone that most often breaks when falling onto an outstretched arm. The shoulder bones can also be damaged when falling on the arm, even pressed against the body. All the described signs of a fracture are inherent in this localization.

Fractures of the femur, lower leg

These fractures occur as a result of excessive axial load, blows to the thigh and lower leg, car accidents, and in the elderly – from falling to the side (this is how the femoral neck breaks). Symptoms of damage to this localization are quite diverse. Cervical femoral fractures are characterized by an outward rotation of the foot and the inability to lift the extended leg up. With fractures of the fibula, the main symptom is pain (the supporting function is not impaired), with an injury to the tibia, displacement often occurs due to the peculiarities of muscle attachment to it. Swelling of the leg after a fracture of the lower leg also appears quite often. Moreover, due to squeezing of the vessels, it can persist for quite a long time even after the release of the veins from the bone fragment pressing on them.

The most common among all fractures of the bones of the lower extremities are various ankle fractures. They usually occur when the leg is twisted and all of its weight is transferred to it. Less commonly, the ankles are affected by a direct blow. Composing the ankle joint, they perform a supporting function, therefore, when they are fractured, a person’s ability to step on the injured leg drops sharply. Pain in a fracture of the ankle joint is very strong, it is she who makes the victim spare the site of injury.

Fractures of the bones of the foot

For this type of injury, pain is the most common symptom. If the bones of the tarsus (heel, talus, etc.) are damaged, the supporting function of the foot is also impaired. In case of injuries to other bones, a person can step on the foot, but spares it.

Fracture of the little finger on the leg, the sign of which is pain, does not impair the support function of the limb. Even if two or more fingers are damaged, a person can walk, however, very carefully.

Treatment of limb fractures

Treatment depends on whether the fracture is open or closed. There are community principles.

In case of a closed fracture, rest the injured limb and immediately apply an immobilizing splint from any available means – sticks, boards, a piece of plywood or plastic, even from glossy magazines rolled into a tube! You should not try to straighten a broken arm or leg, immobilization is performed in the position in which the limb is located immediately after the injury. After immobilization, the victim is taken to the hospital.

First aid for open fractures of the extremities should not begin with immobilization, but with stopping the bleeding. To do this, a pressure bandage is applied to the wounds, and if it is ineffective, a hemostatic tourniquet, also made from improvised materials – a tie, belt, cord, rope, etc., is applied. Only after a reliable stop of bleeding, the limb is immobilized according to the rules described above and the victim is taken to the hospital.

Further treatment of closed fractures is the application of a plaster cast or splint to ensure complete immobility of the limb and allow the bones to heal. The duration of immobilization depends on the severity and location of the fracture. The cast is removed after a fracture of the ankle after 4-6 weeks, and in case of injuries of the bones of the wrist – even after 3 months from the moment of injury.

Surgery is performed in the following cases:

• failure of conservative treatment;
• open fractures;
• any fractures with damage to blood vessels and nerves at the site of injury.

Sometimes surgery for fractures of the extremities (upper and lower) may be required regardless of the presence of complicating factors. For example, most of the injuries of the femoral neck or oblique fractures of the tibia with displacement of fragments are treated only surgically.

Rehabilitation after fractures of extremities

The terms of rehabilitation and its tactics after fractures of extremities depend on the severity of the injury, the method of treatment of the fracture, and its localization. The terms of healing of a fracture of the radius of the hand with displacement usually do not exceed 4 weeks, since the treatment of this type of injury is almost always conservative. A fracture of the femoral neck may generally be incurable due to the peculiarities of the blood supply to the femoral head.

Before removing the cast, a good doctor will take a control x-ray. This is necessary in order to ensure good bone fusion. Only after that, the specialist can say, for example, when it is possible to step on the foot after a fracture of the bones of the lower limb.

After removing the immobilizers, the stage of final rehabilitation begins. This word refers to a set of procedures aimed at restoring the functions of the damaged limb – motor, support (for legs), grasping (for hands), etc. However, some exercises begin to be done already in the first days after the injury. For example, bedridden patients should do breathing exercises, and those who suffered from leg fractures should work with a healthy limb so as not to lose mobility in it. Even a sick arm and leg should be moved in a dosed manner – this improves blood circulation in it, enhances recovery processes and accelerates bone fusion. Rehabilitation after a fracture in a child is especially important – his hands have not yet fully formed, his legs are still growing. The slightest mistake in treatment will lead to permanent disability.

How to develop a hand after a fracture of the bones of the wrist, how to get rid of contracture in the ankle joint, how to start walking again, stepping on the foot after a hip fracture – all these questions can be answered by a rehabilitation doctor. To return a person to a normal life, physiotherapy exercises, massage, and physiotherapy are used. For each type of fracture, special sets of exercises have been developed, which can be found on the website dobrobut.com.

It is exercise therapy and massage that help when the leg swells after a fracture of the calcaneus. These methods help to improve the elasticity of the ligamentous apparatus of the joints, and only thanks to them, the muscles, weaned from the loads during the forced “downtime”, will begin to develop again and perform their functions.