Symptoms
Toe Deformity – An untreated toe fracture can lead to joint damage, chronic swelling, and a displacement of the broken bone. These conditions can cause a toe deformity. While a toe deformity may seem like a simple cosmetic nuisance it can also result in pain and make it difficult to wear shoes.
Causes
Broken toe. Diagnosis. During the physical exam, your doctor will check for tender areas in your toes. Your doctor will also check the skin around your injury to make sure it's intact and that the toe is still receiving adequate blood flow and nerve signals.
Complications
The big toe is more likely than the smaller toes to need surgery in order to heal properly and to be as strong as it was before you broke it. Even if surgery is not required, you may be given crutches so you can walk without putting weight on the toe. What is the treatment for a badly broken toe?
What happens if you leave a broken toe untreated?
What to do if you have a broken toe?
Can you walk on a broken big toe without surgery?
How long does an untreated broken toe last?
Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. Sometimes, a broken toe may become infected or increase the risk of osteoarthritis in that toe in the future.
Is a broken toe life threatening?
Although life-threatening complications of a broken toe are rare, seek immediate medical care (call 911) for injuries that involve profuse bleeding or severe tissue damage. Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for a broken toe but mild symptoms recur or are persistent.
When should I be worried about my toe is broken?
You should, however, see a doctor for your broken toe if: The pain becomes worse and isn't relieved by normal painkillers. The swelling and bruising don't start to improve in a few days. There is an open wound associated with the break.
Can a broken toe heal on its own?
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.
Do you need to go to hospital for a broken toe?
A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital.
Should I go to the doctor for a broken toe?
If you think you broke your toe, it's best to have your doctor look at it. Even though you can often treat it yourself, a broken toe can sometimes lead to more serious problems, like infection, arthritis, or long-term foot pain.
How do I know if my toe injury is serious?
See a doctor if:the toe is very swollen.the pain is severe and does not go away after several hours.it is difficult to walk or to put weight on the foot.the toenail falls off or the area around it is very swollen.there are signs of infection around the toenail, such as itching, redness, and pus.
Will walking on a broken toe make it worse?
Although it may be possible to move and walk on your broken toe, you should avoid doing so as this can lead to even greater damage and prolonged healing time.
Can a broken toe cause nerve damage?
In addition to future problems from the broken toe itself, you may have sustained nerve damage, especially if you have tingling or numbness in your toe. Visiting the doctor can help assess the severity of the break to determine what course of treatment will be best.
Can a broken toe cause other problems?
After the toe fracture heals, the person may still be left with arthritis, pain, stiffness, or even a deformity. Sometimes, the fractured bone will not heal completely (called a nonunion), or will heal improperly (called a malunion). Although it's rare, surgery may be necessary to fix this problem.
Can a broken toe cause a blood clot?
Trauma could result from a car accident, a sports injury, or even a fall. Common mishaps that may lead to a clot include: Broken bones. Bad bumps.
Can you still walk on a broken toe?
You still have mobility, but the hard sole doesn't bend. It allows you to walk around without putting pressure on your toes,” explains Dr. King. The fracture shoe keeps your toes immobile so the bones can knit back together in the proper position.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
Look for discoloration, pain, and swelling.
What are the symptoms of a bone infection in your toe?
Symptoms that suggest your toe has developed a bone infection include: Fatigue. Fever. Pain. Warmth and redness of the toe.
How long does it take for a toe to change color?
While it’s likely to hurt immediately, it can take a few days for the color to change and swelling to appear. If you’re certain your toe is fractured or you simply want peace of mind, your Dr. Rambacher can provide a full assessment and order X-rays to make the right diagnosis.
Can osteoarthritis cause pain in the toe?
It’s not unusual for a bone spur to develop at the affected toe. This is a bony protrusion that can be painful, particularly when wearing shoes.
Can antibiotics cause bone cancer?
Warmth and redness of the toe. When dealt with quickly, a bone infection can be treated with antibiotics. If left too long, the infection can restrict blood circulation, leading to bone death of that toe, septic arthritis, and an increased risk of developing skin cancer.
Can a broken toe cause infection?
A fractured toe that’s left untreated can lead to infection. When it comes to broken toes, infection risk usually happens if the skin on the affected toe is cut or punctured at the time of the injury. You’re at increased risk of developing a bone infection if you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or a compromised or weakened immune system. ...
What is a broken toe?
A broken toe is often the result of a painful and significant event, such as falling, stubbing the toe very hard, or dropping an object on the toe. These types of breaks are known as traumatic fractures. Traumatic fractures can range from minor to severe.
Why does walking on a broken toe hurt?
Walking on the broken toe too soon can delay or prevent healing. This may cause pain for months or even years after the injury. Arthritis in the affected joint. A person may develop arthritis if the bone is broken near a joint in the toe and is not correctly aligned before it heals.
What does it mean when a toe is displaced?
A displaced fracture means the broken bone has moved out of place. This may occur with more severe traumatic fractures. 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.
Why does my toe crack?
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.
How to prevent toe fractures?
Improve balance and posture. Regular physical activity, including strength training and balance exercises, can reduce the risk of slips and falls that result in toe fractures. Keep diabetes under control. People with diabetes are at risk of neuropathy, which damages the nerves in the feet.
How to prevent toe break?
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.
What is stress fracture?
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 bones of the legs and feet.
What to take for a broken toe?
You can usually manage pain from a broken toe with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers if the pain from your fracture is more severe.
What to wear for toe swelling after surgery?
Wearing a stiff-bottomed shoe. Your doctor might prescribe a post-surgical shoe that has a stiff bottom and a soft top that closes with strips of fabric fastener. This can prevent your toe from flexing and provide more room to accommodate the swelling. Casting.
What is the best way to heal a broken bone?
Immobilization. To heal, a broken bone must be immobilized so that its ends can knit back together. Examples include: Buddy taping. If you have a simple fracture in any of your smaller toes, your doctor may tape the injured toe to its neighboring toe. The uninjured toe acts like a splint.
How to reduce swelling in foot?
Elevation and ice can help reduce swelling and pain. Prop your foot up when possible so that your injury is higher than your heart. If you use ice, wrap it in a towel so that it doesn't make direct contact with your skin, and only apply it for about 15 minutes at a time, taking a break of at least 20 minutes between icing sessions.
How to treat a broken toe?
Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe.
What happens if you cut your toe?
If the skin is cut near your injured toe, you are at higher risk of developing an infection in the bone. Osteoarthritis. This wear-and-tear type of arthritis is more likely to occur when the fracture extends into one of the toe joints. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
How long does it take for a broken toe to heal?
Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. Sometimes, a broken toe may become infected or increase the risk of osteoarthritis in that toe in the future.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
Signs and symptoms of a broken toe include: 1 Pain 2 Swelling 3 Discoloration
Why is my broken toe not healing?
Although you experience pain when walking on your injured toe, you should allow it some activity. Otherwise, you can expect your toe to develop a sickly appearance in a few months as a result of bone atrophy, which develops on injured or diseased body organs after a long period of non use.
How to treat a broken toe?
Adjust the Way You Use Crutches. To treat a broken toe not healing after a long time, you need to first make some changes in the way you deal with your injured toe. Even if you are walking on crutches, you should have your foot touch the floor to allow for some natural movement of the leg. Learn how to use crutches correctly, ...
How to use crutches for toe?
If you are using crutches, it is important to learn exactly how to use them. The correct way to use crutches is to hold them on the side opposite the broken toe. This might seem to be a minor issue but could easily lead to a lifetime of pain on the broken toe. The reason for this is that the natural movement of the foot will be affected if the crutches are used wrongly. The result will be inactivity on the foot which will lead to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Others will refer to this condition as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), but it’s basically the same thing. RDS can lead to a lot of pain even after your toe is completely healed.
Why is my toe not healing?
Your broken toe could also not be healing because of an infection. This is very rare, but when it occurs, it can lead to emergencies and prolonged healing periods. The infection will probably occur during the toe breaking event or during surgery. Of course, this does not always happen since the fractures will mostly leave the skin intact as a barrier to bacteria. And surgical equipment is thoroughly sterilized before operations. To determine whether or not your broken toe is not healing because of an infection, you need to take a blood test or an X-Ray. Alternatively, you may have to take a computer tomography scan, a tagged white blood cell scan or magnetic resonance imaging scan.
Why do crutches cause pain in the foot?
The reason for this is that the natural movement of the foot will be affected if the crutches are used wrongly. The result will be inactivity on the foot which will lead to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Others will refer to this condition as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), but it’s basically the same thing.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
You can tell that your toe is broken by the swelling, stiffness and bruising on the injured toe. A serious breakage will even leave the toe in a deformed state. Usually, the broken toe should heal within six weeks. For broken toe not healing after four weeks, the reason could be one of these:
How to avoid breaking a toe?
You can avoid breaking a toe by: Wearing protective shoes fit properly. Being careful when taking part in sporting activities as toe injuries are very common in athletes. Including foods rich in vitamin C and vitamin D in your diet as these improve the strength of your bones.
How to get rid of a broken toe?
Make sure the tape isn't too tight. Also make sure you remove it and apply fresh tape and padding after washing your injured foot. Pain relief: take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Ibuprofen gel applied to the toe may be helpful if the skin isn't broken.
What does it mean when your toe is broken?
A broken (fractured) toe is a fairly common injury which usually needs no specific treatment . It is most often caused by dropping a heavy object on to your foot or badly stubbing your toe.
Why does my toe go numb?
The toe goes numb or tingly. This suggests pressure on, or damage to, the nerves to the toe (which run up the side of the toe, one on each side). The skin on the toes has turned blue (other than bruising) or grey and is cold to the touch when the other toes are not. The toe is bent at an angle or with an open wound.
What to do if your toe is swollen?
Ibuprofen gel applied to the toe may be helpful if the skin isn't broken. Protection: wear sturdy shoes with stiff soles, that don't squash or bend the toe. You can begin normal activity once the swelling has gone down and you're able to wear a protective shoe comfortably.
Why are toe bones so vulnerable?
However, toe bones are more vulnerable because they are small bones and because they are on the edge of the body, so are more likely to be injured in the first place. A broken little toe, caused by stubbing it, may be particularly common due to its position.
Why do you cast a broken big toe?
A broken (fractured) big toe may be put in a cast to support it, as it takes much more of your weight than the other toes and is also needed for balance. The big toe is more likely than the smaller toes to need surgery in order to heal properly and to be as strong as it was before you broke it.
How long should I ice my toe?
Ice: beyond 72 hours ice is no longer beneficial. Hold an ice pack to the toe for 15-20 minutes every one to two hours for the first couple of days. See the separate leaflet called Heat and Ice Treatment for Pain for more information. Elevation: this means sitting or lying with your foot up, as high as is comfortable.
What happens if you don't handle a toe fracture?
If your toe fracture is not properly handled, or treatment is delayed you may experience a wide range of consequences and side effects, including: Motion limiting deformity & long-term dysfunction. Development of arthritis around the fracture. Non-healing & worsening of the fracture. Development of chronic pain.
What is the best way to fix a broken toe?
Casting, if the toe has become dislocated. Wearing podiatrist-provided stiff-soled shoes to support the fracture. Pain & anti-inflammatory medication.
What is the most common toe injury?
Out of the five toes (also known as digits of the feet) the pinky toe is the most commonly broken toe with the fracture often occurring at the base of the toe.
What causes a toe to break?
Some of the most common causes of broken toes include: Overuse. Stubbing or banging your toe against something hard. Rolling your toe. Dropping a hard and/or heavy object on your toe. Wearing poor footwear. Osteoporosis.
Why do athletes break their toes?
These breaks are often referred to as “turf toe.” Turf toe is caused by excessive and repetitive pushing off of the big toe when making explosive movements (e.g. running & jumping), and can vary from a sprain to a broken bone with ligament damage. If you’re experiencing severe pain from your big toe after athletic or strenuous activity you may need to be examined for a break.
How to tell if your toe is broken?
How to Tell if a Toe is Broken: Symptoms & Identification. Broken toes are some of the most common breaks of the foot and are frequently marked by symptoms like: Severe bruising. Intense & throbbing pain. Swelling.
What causes a fractured toe?
There are several ways to categorize your toe fractures: Stress fracture – caused by repetitive activity / overuse. Non-displaced – bones are cracked but have not broken apart. Displaced – ends of the broken toe have separated completely or partially from the rest of the bone. Open fractures – skin is broken and the bone is protruding.
What happens if you break your toe?
When you break a toe, you’ll likely have: 1 Pain and tenderness in your toe 2 Pain when you walk or put weight on your foot 3 Redness or bruising 4 Stiffness 5 Swelling
What to do if you broke your toe?
This keeps your toe from bending too much and allows room for swelling. If you broke your toe all the way through and the bone moved, your doctor may need to set it back in place. First, you’ll get a shot to numb your toe. Then your doctor moves the bones back together with their hands. There’s no surgery involved.
What does it mean when your toe is broken?
A broken toe is when you break a bone in one of your toes. Each of your toes has three bones, except for the big toe, which has two. A break can happen when you stub your toe really hard or drop something on it. A broken toe doesn’t usually need much medical care. In fact, it can be tough to tell whether you broke it or just hurt it badly, ...
How long does it take for a broken toe to heal?
Broken Toe Recovery. Most of the time, your toe will heal in about 4-6 weeks. But it could take as long as 8 weeks for more serious breaks. You’ll need to hold off on sports and other physical activities until your doctor gives you the green light. If you start those too soon, you might re-injure your toe.
What does it mean when your toes are numb?
An illness that impacts the nerves or blood flow in your feet, like diabetes. Fever or chills. Intense pain under your toenail (possibly a blood buildup under the nail) Numbness, tingling, or coldness in your toe. Pain that gets worse or doesn’t get better with over-the-counter pain medicine.
How to keep your foot from hurting when you're awake?
For very serious breaks, you may need surgery to put in pins or screws that hold the bones in place. Keep your foot raised while sitting or lying down (above your heart is best) to keep the swelling and pain down. Put ice on your toe for 20 minutes every hour while you’re awake. That’s for the first 24 hours.
How to diagnose a broken toe?
Broken Toe Diagnosis. First, your doctor will ask you what happened and what symptoms you’re having. They’ll check for tenderness and broken skin around your toe. They’ll also test your nerves and blood flow. Then, if your doctor thinks it’s a break, you’ll likely get an X-ray. Broken Toe Treatment.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Preparing For Your Appointment