Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for a broken pinky toe

by Chanel Jacobson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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For a simple break, your doctor may splint your pinky to your fourth toe to keep it in place while it heals. If the break is serious, surgery may be necessary to reset the bone. Your doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, rest, and home care.Sep 20, 2019

Full Answer

How to splint, tape and heal a broken pinkie toe?

What To Do For A Broken Pinky Toe Video Summary:

  • We go over the absolute best treatment, how to tape a broken pinky toe if you have a stubbed pinky toe vs. ...
  • This is the best pinky toe fracture guide!
  • A broken pinky toe can be helped with tape or a wrap:
  • You will need just 2 things: A small amount of tape and a kleenex or toilet paper!

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What is the best treatment for a broken toe?

Treatments for a broken toe include:

  • Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE): The RICE method is useful for many types of injuries, including broken toes. ...
  • Buddy taping: This involves wrapping the toe and taping it to the adjacent toe to keep it supported and protected.
  • A post-surgery shoe or boot: These devices have a stiff sole that allows a person to walk without bending the toe. ...

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What is the recovery time for a broken toe?

  • take ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain and swelling
  • rest your foot and keep it raised
  • hold an ice pack (or 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

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What exercises can you do with a broken toe?

What Exercises Can You Do With a Broken Toe?

  • Strengthening Exercises. Seated upper-body strengthening exercises don't engage your lower body, removing any strain on your foot and toe.
  • Outdoor Options. If it's not too painful, an outing on your bike maintains your cardio goals. ...
  • Exercises At The Gym. ...
  • Core Exercises. ...

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Can a broken pinky 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. If something was dropped on the toe, the area under the toenail can bruise.

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 you know if you broke your pinky toe?

Symptoms of a broken pinky toe a snapping, grinding, or popping noise at the time of the break. pain at the place of impact at the time the fracture occurs. the toe appearing to be crooked. redness, bruising, and swelling.

How long does it take for a pinky toe that's broken to heal?

Healing of a broken toe may take 6–8 weeks. A person may need to have their broken toe buddy taped to an adjacent one. Wearing a stiff-soled shoe can also help, as can using crutches to help keep weight off of the toe while it heals. Rarely, a person may need to wear a cast to keep the foot immobile.

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.

What happens if you leave a broken toe untreated?

A fractured toe that's left untreated can lead to infection You're at increased risk of developing a bone infection if you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or a compromised or weakened immune system. Symptoms that suggest your toe has developed a bone infection include: Fatigue.

How do you buddy wrap a broken pinky toe?

This treatment is called buddy taping.Put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. ... Using as little tape as necessary, loosely tape the broken toe to the toe next to it.If the toes are taped too tightly it can cause additional swelling and may cut off circulation to the injured toe.

How long should I buddy tape a broken toe?

Protect the skin by putting something soft, such as felt or foam, between your toes before you tape them together. Never tape the toes together skin-to-skin. Your broken toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. Rest and protect your toe.

Can you break your little toe by stubbing it?

Stubbing a toe can even cause breaks, sprains, broken nails, and infections. The pain of a stubbed toe usually subsides after a few minutes. In some cases, however, the impact could break the toe or the toenail, causing intense pain that may get worse over hours or days.

How do you treat a broken toe at home?

Dotake 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.More items...

Should a broken toe be treated?

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 is it important to seek medical attention for a broken pinky toe?

Therefore, any damage to it can cause issues. It is important to seek medical attention if a person suspects a broken toe, as it can get worse without treatment.

What is a broken pinky toe?

Pinky toe function. Summary. A broken pinky toe is a fracture of the smallest toe. The term “broken toe” usually describes a traumatic fracture, which can occur due to a direct blow or impact, such as stubbing the toe or dropping something on it. The pinky toe is a commonly broken toe, and the fracture usually occurs at its base.

What is a bunion on the pinky toe called?

Bunion. A bunion is a painful, bony bump on the toe joint. A bunion on the pinky toe is called a tailor’s bunion. Historically, this name comes from the tailors who sat cross-legged all day, with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on hard surfaces.

How to tell if a pinky toe is broken?

Swelling is a common symptom of a broken pinky toe. The most common symptoms of a broken pinky toe include: a snapping, grinding, or popping noise at the time of the break. pain at the place of impact at the time the fracture occurs. the toe appearing to be crooked. redness, bruising, and swelling. If there is an open wound, a person should seek ...

What is a pinky toe?

The pinky toe is a commonly broken toe , and the fracture usually occurs at its base. This article looks at the symptoms of a broken small toe, along with some other problems that can cause pain and swelling in the area. It also examines the treatment and management options for this injury.

What is the smallest toe?

What to know about a broken smallest toe. A broken pinky toe is a fracture of the smallest toe. The term “broken toe” usually describes a traumatic fracture, which can occur due to a direct blow or impact, such as stubbing the toe or dropping something on it. The pinky toe is a commonly broken toe, and the fracture usually occurs at its base.

How does the pinky toe work?

The pinky toe works with the rest of the toes to keep a person balanced. A person’s foot works in a tripod fashion to keep them balanced, with the little toe being one part, the big toe another, and the heel the third. Sustaining damage to any part of this tripod can affect a person’s range of motion.

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.

How to stop toe from flexing 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.

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.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

  • Medications
    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.
  • Reduction
    If the broken fragments of your bone don't fit snugly together, your doctor may need to manipulate the pieces back into their proper positions (reduction). Doctors can usually do this without cutting open your skin. Ice or an injected anesthetic is used to numb your toe.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • 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.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in orthopedic surgery.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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