How to diagnose a broken toe. What are the best treatment options for broken toe pain. When should you seek medical attention for a toe injury. How long does it take for a broken toe to heal. What are effective home remedies for broken toe pain.

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 susceptible to fractures. While most broken toes can be treated at home, severe cases may require medical attention.

The symptoms of a broken toe include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising (which can last up to two weeks)
• Stiffness

In some cases, the toe may appear crooked after the injury, indicating that the bone is out of place and may need to be realigned for proper healing.

Diagnosing a Broken Toe: When to Seek Medical Help

While many broken toes can be treated at home, certain situations warrant medical attention. You should seek medical help if you experience:

• A crooked toe after injury
• An open wound or bleeding
• Injury to the big toe

Healthcare providers may use X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of the fracture. In rare cases, tiny bone fragments can interfere with proper healing, potentially requiring surgery.

Is it necessary to see a doctor for every broken toe?

Not all broken toes require a doctor’s visit. Most can be treated effectively at home. However, if you experience severe pain, inability to walk, or if the toe appears significantly misaligned, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional.

Immediate Care for a Broken Toe: First 24-48 Hours

The first few days after a toe injury are crucial for proper healing. Here’s what you should do:

1. Rest: Stop any physical activity that causes pain and keep your foot immobile when possible.
2. Ice: Apply ice to your toe for 20 minutes every hour you’re awake for the first 24 hours, then 2-3 times a day. Avoid applying ice directly to the skin.
3. Elevate: Keep your foot raised to reduce swelling.
4. Pain management: Take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary.

How can you tell if your toe is broken or just bruised?

It can be challenging to differentiate between a broken and bruised toe. Both conditions can cause pain, swelling, and discoloration. However, a broken toe may be more painful, appear misaligned, or make walking difficult. If you’re unsure, it’s best to treat it as a broken toe and follow the recommended care instructions.

Home Treatment for Broken Toes: Effective Strategies

Most broken toes can be effectively treated at home. Here are some strategies to promote healing:

• Buddy taping: Wrap tape around the injured toe and the adjacent toe to provide stability. Place a small cotton wad between the toes to prevent moisture buildup, and change it daily.
• Proper footwear: Wear a stiff-bottomed shoe or one recommended by your doctor to protect your toe and accommodate swelling.
• Gradual activity increase: Slowly increase your walking as pain and swelling subside.
• Post-activity care: Ice your toe after activity if there’s any pain.

What is the best way to tape a broken toe?

The most effective method for taping a broken toe is the “buddy taping” technique. This involves gently wrapping medical tape around the injured toe and the neighboring toe, creating a splint-like support. Ensure the tape isn’t too tight to allow for circulation, and place a small piece of cotton between the toes to prevent skin irritation.

Pain Management for Broken Toes: Medication and Natural Remedies

Managing pain is an essential part of broken toe treatment. Here are some options:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) can help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol): This can be used for pain relief, but consult your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Natural remedies: Applying a cold compress or soaking your foot in Epsom salt can help alleviate pain and reduce swelling.

Always follow dosage instructions and consult your healthcare provider if you have any underlying health conditions or if the pain persists.

Are there any risks associated with taking pain medication for a broken toe?

While pain medications can be effective in managing discomfort from a broken toe, they do come with potential risks. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can cause stomach upset or bleeding in some individuals, especially with prolonged use. Acetaminophen, if taken in high doses, can potentially harm the liver. It’s important to follow dosage instructions carefully and consult with a healthcare provider if you have any pre-existing conditions or concerns.

Recovery Timeline: What to Expect When Healing a Broken Toe

The healing process for a broken toe typically follows this timeline:

1. First few days: Most pain and swelling should subside within a week.
2. 4-6 weeks: Complete healing usually occurs within this timeframe for most broken toes.
3. 6-8 weeks: More severe injuries requiring casting, reduction, or surgery may take longer to heal.

It’s normal to experience some soreness and stiffness when walking as your toe heals. This will gradually improve as the muscles in your toe stretch and strengthen.

How can you speed up the healing process of a broken toe?

While you can’t dramatically accelerate the natural healing process, you can support it by following these steps:

• Strictly adhere to the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) in the initial stages
• Maintain proper nutrition, including adequate protein and calcium intake
• Stay hydrated
• Avoid smoking, as it can impair healing
• Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully
• Gradually increase activity as recommended by your healthcare provider

Complications and Warning Signs: When to Worry About Your Broken Toe

While most broken toes heal without complications, it’s important to be aware of potential warning signs. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

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

Can a broken toe lead to long-term complications if left untreated?

Yes, an untreated broken toe can potentially lead to long-term complications. These may include:

• Chronic pain
• Arthritis in the affected joint
• Permanent deformity
• Difficulty wearing shoes or walking comfortably
• Increased risk of future injuries

Therefore, it’s crucial to provide proper care for a broken toe, even if it seems minor, and seek medical attention if you have concerns about the healing process.

Prevention Strategies: Protecting Your Toes from Future Injuries

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

• Wear properly fitting shoes that provide adequate protection for your feet
• Use steel-toed boots in work environments where heavy objects could fall on your feet
• Be cautious when walking barefoot, especially in unfamiliar environments
• Keep your living space well-lit and free of clutter to avoid tripping hazards
• Strengthen your feet and ankles through exercises to improve stability

What types of shoes are best for preventing toe injuries?

The best shoes for preventing toe injuries typically have the following features:

• A wide toe box that allows your toes to move freely
• Sturdy construction that protects your feet from impacts
• Good fit that prevents your foot from sliding around inside the shoe
• Appropriate support for your foot type and activity level
• Non-slip soles to prevent accidents on slippery surfaces

Athletic shoes, work boots with reinforced toes, and shoes with a firm sole can all offer good protection against toe injuries. Remember to replace your shoes regularly, as worn-out shoes provide less protection and support.

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.

Browse the Encyclopedia

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.