How to identify a broken toe. What are the most effective home remedies for toe fractures. When should you seek medical attention for a broken toe. How long does it take for a broken toe to heal completely. What are the best ways to manage pain and swelling in a broken toe. How can you prevent complications from a toe fracture. What footwear is recommended during recovery from a broken toe.

Understanding Broken Toes: Causes and Symptoms

Broken toes are a common injury that can occur from stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on your foot. Each toe consists of two or three small, fragile bones called phalanges, which are susceptible to fractures. While many broken toes can be treated at home, it’s crucial to recognize the symptoms and understand when professional medical care is necessary.

Common Symptoms of a Broken Toe

• Pain, often intense and immediate
• Swelling around the affected area
• Bruising that may last up to two weeks
• Stiffness or difficulty moving the toe
• Visible deformity or crooked appearance

Can you walk on a broken toe? While it’s possible to walk on a broken toe, it’s generally advisable to avoid putting weight on it, especially in the initial stages of injury. Walking may exacerbate pain and potentially worsen the fracture.

Diagnosing a Broken Toe: When to Seek Medical Attention

Most broken toes can be diagnosed through a physical examination and discussion of symptoms. However, in some cases, medical professionals may use X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the injury.

Severe Toe Injuries Requiring Immediate Medical Care

• Breaks that cause the toe to appear crooked
• Open wounds or visible bone
• Injuries involving the big toe
• Sudden numbness or tingling
• Significant increase in pain or swelling
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, red streaks)

Is a broken big toe more serious than other broken toes? Yes, injuries to the big toe often require more intensive treatment, potentially including casting or splinting, due to its importance in balance and walking.

Effective Home Care Strategies for Broken Toes

For most broken toes, proper home care can facilitate healing without the need for surgical intervention. Here are some essential steps to take care of a broken toe at home:

1. Rest: Avoid activities that cause pain and keep your foot immobile when possible.
2. Ice: Apply ice for 20 minutes every hour for the first 24 hours, then 2-3 times daily.
3. Elevation: Keep your foot raised to reduce swelling.
4. Pain management: Use over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
5. Buddy taping: Stabilize the injured toe by taping it to an adjacent toe.

How long should you buddy tape a broken toe? Generally, it’s recommended to buddy tape a broken toe for about 2-4 weeks, or until the pain and swelling subside. However, it’s essential to change the tape and inspect the toe daily.

Managing Pain and Swelling in Broken Toes

Pain and swelling are common symptoms of a broken toe. Effectively managing these symptoms can significantly improve comfort and promote healing.

Pain Relief Options for Broken Toes

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) for pain and inflammation
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief
• Prescription pain medication for severe cases (as directed by a healthcare provider)

How can you reduce swelling in a broken toe? Elevating the foot above heart level, applying ice, and avoiding weight-bearing activities can help reduce swelling. Compression bandages may also be beneficial, but should be applied carefully to avoid restricting circulation.

Footwear and Activity Recommendations During Recovery

Proper footwear plays a crucial role in protecting the injured toe and facilitating healing. Initially, it may be painful to wear regular shoes, and alternative options may be necessary.

Recommended Footwear for Broken Toes

• Stiff-bottomed surgical shoe (often provided by healthcare providers)
• Wide, stable shoes with a solid sole
• Open-toed sandals (if swelling is significant)

When can you resume normal activities after breaking a toe? Gradually increase activity as pain and swelling subside, typically within a few days to a week. Full recovery and return to normal activities usually occur within 4-6 weeks, depending on the severity of the fracture.

Potential Complications and Long-Term Effects of Toe Fractures

While most broken toes heal without complications, it’s important to be aware of potential issues that may arise during the healing process or persist long-term.

Possible Complications of Broken Toes

• Chronic pain or stiffness
• Arthritis in the affected joint
• Improper healing leading to deformity
• Nonunion (failure of the bone to heal)
• Infection (in cases of open fractures)

Can a broken toe heal incorrectly? Yes, if a broken toe is not properly aligned or immobilized during healing, it may heal in an incorrect position, potentially leading to chronic pain or difficulty walking. This underscores the importance of proper initial treatment and follow-up care.

Prevention Strategies: Protecting Your Toes from Injury

While accidents can happen, there are several measures you can take to reduce the risk of toe injuries:

1. Wear protective footwear in high-risk environments
2. Keep living spaces free of clutter and tripping hazards
3. Be cautious when moving heavy objects
4. Strengthen foot and ankle muscles through exercises
5. Maintain good overall bone health through diet and exercise

How effective are steel-toed shoes in preventing toe injuries? Steel-toed shoes can significantly reduce the risk of toe injuries in work environments where heavy objects may fall. They’re particularly effective against crush injuries, which can cause severe toe fractures.

Special Considerations for Athletes and Active Individuals

Athletes and highly active individuals may face unique challenges when dealing with broken toes. Proper management is crucial to ensure a safe return to sports and physical activities.

Guidelines for Athletes Recovering from Toe Fractures

• Follow a gradual return-to-play protocol
• Use appropriate taping techniques for added support
• Consider custom orthotics or shoe modifications
• Focus on maintaining overall fitness through low-impact activities
• Work with a sports medicine specialist or physical therapist

How soon can athletes return to training after a broken toe? The timeline for returning to training varies depending on the severity of the fracture and the specific demands of the sport. Generally, light, non-impact training can begin within 2-3 weeks, with a full return to sport typically possible within 6-8 weeks, under professional guidance.

Understanding the nuances of broken toe injuries, from initial diagnosis to long-term care and prevention, is crucial for effective management. By following proper treatment protocols and being attentive to your body’s healing process, you can ensure optimal recovery and minimize the risk of future toe injuries. Remember, while many broken toes can be treated at home, it’s always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional if you have concerns about the severity of your injury or the progress of your recovery.

Broken toe – self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Each toe is made up of 2 or 3 small bones. These bones are small and fragile. They can break after you stub your toe or drop something heavy on it.

Broken toes are a common injury. The fracture is most often treated without surgery and can be taken care of at home.

Severe injuries include:

• Breaks that cause the toe to be crooked
• Breaks that cause an open wound
• Injuries that involve the big toe

If you have a severe injury, you should seek medical help.

Injuries that involve the big toe may need a cast or splint to heal. In rare cases, tiny pieces of bone can break off and keep the bone from healing properly. In this case, you may need surgery.

Symptoms of a broken toe include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising that can last up to 2 weeks
• Stiffness

If your toe is crooked after the injury, the bone may be out of place and may need to be straightened in order to heal properly. This may be done either with or without surgery.

Most broken toes will heal on their own with proper care at home. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for complete healing. Most pain and swelling will go away within a few days to a week.

If something was dropped on the toe, the area under the toenail can bruise. This will go away in time with nail growth. If there is substantial blood under the nail, it may be removed to reduce pain and potentially prevent the loss of the nail.

For the first few days after your injury:

• Rest. Stop doing any physical activity that causes pain, and keep your foot immobile whenever possible.
• For the first 24 hours, ice your toe for 20 minutes every hour you are awake, then 2 to 3 times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
• Keep your foot raised to help keep swelling down.
• Take pain medicine if necessary.

For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

• If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, talk with your health care provider.
• Do not give aspirin to children.

You may also take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for pain relief. If you have liver disease, talk with your provider before using this medicine.

Do not take more than the amount recommended on the medicine bottle or by your provider.

Your provider may prescribe a stronger medicine if needed.

To take care of your injury at home:

• Buddy taping. Wrap tape around the injured toe and the toe next to it. This helps keep your toe stable. Place a small wad of cotton between your toes to prevent tissues from becoming too moist. Change the cotton daily.
• Footwear. It may be painful to wear a regular shoe. In this case, your doctor can provide a stiff-bottomed shoe. This will protect your toe and make room for swelling. Once swelling has gone down, wear a solid, stable shoe to protect your toe.

Slowly increase the amount of walking you do each day. You can return to normal activity once the swelling has gone down, and you can wear a stable and protective shoe.

There may be some soreness and stiffness when you walk. This will go away once the muscles in your toe begin to stretch and strengthen.

Ice your toe after activity if there is any pain.

More severe injuries that require casting, reduction, or surgery will take time to heal, possibly 6 to 8 weeks.

Follow up with your provider 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. If the injury is severe, your provider may want to see you more than once. X-rays may be taken.

Call your provider if you have any of the following:

• Sudden numbness or tingling
• A sudden increase in pain or swelling
• An open wound or bleeding
• Fever or chills
• Healing that is slower than expected
• Red streaks on the toe or foot
• Toes that appear more crooked or bent

Fractured toe – self-care; Broken bone – toe – self-care; Fracture – toe – self-care; Fracture phalanx – toe

Alkhamisi A. Toe fractures. In: Eiff MP, Hatch RL, Higgins MK, eds. Fracture Management for Primary Care and Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 16.

Rose NGW, Green TJ. Ankle and foot. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 49.

Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Broken toe – NHS

A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.

Check if you have a broken toe

You may have broken your toe if it’s:

• red or bruised
• painful and swollen
• difficult to walk on

Information:

Do not worry if you’re not sure if it’s broken or just bruised, treatment is usually the same for both.

Urgent advice: Get help from NHS 111 if:

• you have a bad cut or wound after injuring your toe
• you have severe toe pain
• your child has hurt or broken their toe

You may need further treatment in hospital, such as a boot, cast or surgery.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

You could also go to your nearest urgent treatment centre.

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:

• always there and so bad it’s hard to think or talk
• you cannot sleep
• it’s very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

• always there
• makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
• you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

• comes and goes
• is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Immediate action required: Go to A&E if:

• you think you have broken your big toe
• your toe is pointing out at an odd angle
• the bone is sticking out of your toe
• there was a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
• you feel tingling in your toe or foot or it feels numb

If you cannot get to A&E by yourself, call 999 for an ambulace.

What you can do about a broken toe

Doctors will usually suggest you treat a broken toe at home first if:

• it’s not your big toe
• the bone is not sticking out of your foot
• your toe is not pointing at an odd angle
• there’s no wound on your toe

Broken toes usually heal within 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes take several months.

Do

• take ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain and swelling

• rest your foot and keep it raised

• hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every few hours

• wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel

• avoid walking around as much as possible

• strap up your broken toe – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the toe next to it, then tape them together to support the sore toe

Don’t

• do not strap up your toe if it’s pointing out at an odd angle or you have hurt your big toe – get medical advice

• do not put ice directly on your skin

• do not walk or stand for long periods

• do not wear tight, pointy shoes

• do not play any sports like football, rugby or hockey for 6 weeks or until the pain eases

• do not try to treat your child’s toe – take them to an urgent treatment centre or A&E

A pharmacist can help with a broken toe

You can ask a pharmacist about:

• the best painkiller to take
• what you need to strap up your toe
• if you need to see a GP

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• pain and swelling has not started to ease 2 to 3 days after you injured your toe
• it still hurts to walk 6 weeks after injuring your toe
• you have diabetes and have injured your toe – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

They may send you for an X-ray to see if you need any further treatment.

Page last reviewed: 06 May 2022
Next review due: 06 May 2025

What to do if you break your toe? – useful articles from specialists

Any fracture can have unpleasant consequences, even if we are talking about a broken toe. Knowing what to do when you break your toe can help you navigate a difficult situation. Read our first aid tips – and you will have a clear idea of ​​​​how to diagnose a fracture (let’s talk about its characteristic signs and symptoms), how it can be cured.

A broken toe requires immediate medical attention. Its treatment is long and complex. If you want to avoid a number of inconveniences (for example, difficulty in movement due to improperly fused bone), you need to learn how to determine the presence of a fracture in a timely manner. Improper treatment can cause loss of the former shape and flexibility of the limb. Therefore, at the first suspicion of a fracture, it makes sense to consult a doctor.

Broken toe: causes and symptoms

Most often, the phalanges of the fingers are injured when an object that is too heavy falls, due to a strong blow or accidental twisting of the leg. In some cases, fractures occur due to diseases such as osteomyelitis (bone infection), diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis.

Most fractures are stressful: a microcrack occurs that does not cause a rupture of the skin or displacement of the bones. Less commonly, comminuted fractures occur: the bone breaks in several places. Diagnosing an open fracture is easy: you will see the bones sticking out. Proper assessment of the severity of the injury allows the appropriate treatment to be determined.

The main symptoms of a broken toe include:

• visible swelling;
• unbearable pain;
• deformity of the phalanx;
• bruising, bruising;
• crunching when trying to move the leg;
• tingling, cooling, numbness;
• open wound with bleeding.

Having broken the thumb, a person cannot fully walk, because it is this finger that accounts for most of the body weight. A broken little finger does not make a person unable to walk. But in both cases, the pain will be palpable.

What complications are possible after a broken toe?

Do not think that a finger phalanx injury is a trifle. A number of problems arise after an injury. In the presence of a hematoma, removal of the nail is possible. In case of improper tissue fusion, surgical intervention is required: an osteotomy is performed to eliminate the deformation of the joints and bones.

In addition, there is a risk of infection if there is inflamed skin near a broken finger. The presence of redness, swelling, pus, as well as the softness of the tissues and fever are evidence of infection. In this case, antibiotics are indispensable.

In order to avoid the consequences of a fracture, you need to seek medical help from qualified specialists. Diagnosis and treatment of injured limbs is carried out not only by chiropractors and orthopedists, but also by osteopaths and physiotherapists. Specialists make diagnoses after examination and examination of x-rays. In some cases, computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound, bone scans are required.

Features of the treatment of broken toes

If we are talking about a stress fracture, then the first thing you will need to do is stop any activity, apply an ice compress to the damaged area (it will reduce inflammation and stop internal bleeding). Ice should be applied for 10-12 minutes every hour. Experts recommend keeping the injured limb elevated, it can be put on a roller from a blanket or pillow. Be sure to bandage the broken finger, connecting it to the adjacent one. For this, a regular medical waterproof bandage is suitable. The family doctor will recommend anti-inflammatory drugs. The next 5-6 days you will have to walk in shoes with a free toe.

With an open fracture, the help of an orthopedic surgeon is required. He will reduce the broken finger and apply a splint. You will need to use crutches for about 2 weeks. For walks, you will need to purchase special orthopedic shoes. Anyone who wants to quickly recover from a fracture should eat foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, magnesium, calcium, and boron.

Important point! Doctors almost always recommend a tetanus shot if you have an open wound.

Practice shows that the healing of broken fingers takes about 1.5 months. If during this period the problem is not solved, the doctor will take new x-rays and adjust the treatment. Only an expert can qualitatively assess the degree of bone healing.

Despite the fact that the fractures in question heal easily, the consequences should not be forgotten. You don’t want to get arthritis, do you? Do you want to be disabled? At the slightest injury, immediately consult a doctor.

What should I do if I break my toe? — Articles “Aerodar-Med”

December 25, 2022

A common cause of deformity of the toes is associated with fractures. They are rarely recognized by a person without medical education. Some people assume it’s a bruise and endure the pain until the fracture heals. As a rule, they grow together incorrectly, which is why it is so important to learn how to determine whether it is a fracture or just a bruise of the fingers. Incorrectly fused bones can lead to a change in gait, and in the future – and deformation of the entire skeleton, in particular the spine. And this can already lead to serious pain.

If there is any suspicion of a fracture or fracture, contact a medical organization for qualified medical care. Before you go to the doctor, you should properly provide yourself with first aid. The article will describe the main symptoms, causes and treatment regimens for finger fractures, as well as possible complications.

Causes of finger fractures

Fractures can occur in both pathologically altered bone and healthy. Pathological fractures are associated with changes in bone structure. It can change due to infection, as well as with the development of osteoporosis and impaired tissue mineralization. Pathological fractures often occur in older people.

Fractures can also occur in healthy bone. This is due to the fact that the acting force was greater than that which the finger can withstand. This may occur due to a blow with a large object or an incorrectly placed limb during a fall.

Classification of finger fractures

The toes are made up of phalanges, which are connected to each other by joints. Finger fractures in traumatology are classified as follows:

• open and closed – open when bone is visible in the wound;

• along the fracture line: transverse, longitudinal, oblique;

• with and without fragments.

Finger fracture symptoms

In medicine, there are 4 main criteria by which one can reliably say that a person has a fracture, and not a bruise:

• unnatural position of the fingers;

• pathological, that is, incorrect mobility of the fingers;

• presence of bone crunch – crepitus;

• bone fragments in the wound.

There are also additional criteria by which one can only assume that a person has bone damage:

• tissue swelling;

• soreness;

• the presence of hemorrhages under the skin – bruises, hematomas;

• disturbance of sensations in the fingers, numbness;

• gait disturbance – depending on the finger, the disturbances can vary from minor to obvious, severe changes in gait are visible with a fracture of the large one.

If you have these symptoms, you should immediately go to the emergency room.

Complications of finger fractures

Sometimes people who have a broken finger don’t want to go to the doctor because they think it’s a minor problem. After all, it was not a large bone that broke, but only a small finger. But even with such a fracture, serious complications can occur.

If this is a closed fracture, and the integrity of the skin is not broken, then there is a risk of improper union of bone fragments. Because of this, gait is disturbed in the future, the foot is deformed, and subsequently this leads to problems with the spine due to incorrect gait and pain in the toes after a long walk.

There is always a risk of infection when there is an open wound. It is not in vain that in the presence of lesions on the skin in medical institutions, tetanus prophylaxis is carried out. Moreover, an ordinary person without a medical education can treat the wound incorrectly, and this will lead to its suppuration, and in the future this may lead to amputation of the finger.

It is precisely because of complications that one should consult a traumatologist. There are medical centers that work around the clock, where they will provide free medical care after a thorough examination. As a rule, it is enough for a doctor to conduct a visual examination and take an x-ray, if necessary, they can additionally perform a computed tomography.

Treatment of broken fingers

If there is a crack in the bone, doctors advise to keep calm and completely remove the load on the injured limb. In addition, painkillers are prescribed, and for reliability, the injured finger is fixed to the next one.

In case of a closed fracture and no displacement, the traumatologist applies a plaster cast up to the ankle. So it will be necessary to pass within a month and come back for a second appointment, so that the doctor removes the cast or decides to continue the treatment.

If the fracture turned out to be open, surgical assistance is indispensable here. In a sterile operating room, a trauma surgeon will compare the bone fragments, disinfect the wound and connect the edges with surgical sutures.

When fingers are broken, for better recovery, you should eat food rich in minerals and vitamins, especially calcium and magnesium.

First aid is to apply ice to the injured limb, immobilize it, and go to a medical facility. If there is no way to get there on your own, you should call an ambulance, including if bleeding does not stop with an open wound.