Medical expert of the article
New publications
Toe Fracture: First Aid
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
What to do if you have a broken toe? Follow our advice and it will be easier for you to deal with this injury, as well as to understand what to do after a broken toe.
Causes of fracture of toe
Trauma or injury of feet (jammed finger) or dropped heavy object on toes can lead to broken phalanges of foot. Location of fingers (in front of feet) makes them most vulnerable part of foot for fractures and injuries.
Long repetitive motions, such as in some sporting events, may lead to broken finger, may be called stress or microcracks at fracture place.
What are symptoms of broken toe?
Symptoms of fracture of toe are following: pain, swelling, stiffness will be probably in broken toe after injury; it may be difficult to walk because of pain, especially with broken thumb. This is because big toe carries most of weight of body when walking or turning. Broken little toe can be very painful, but usually do not limit person's ability to walk.
Other problems may also develop as result of fracture of toe.
Other symptoms of fracture of toe include bruises on skin around toes and bent or deformed toes.
Complications may occur immediately after injury (from few minutes to 5-6 days), or may develop much later (from couple of weeks to several years).
What are possible complications of broken toes?
Injuries of nails. Blood at these injuries can be collected under fingernails and it is called subungual hematoma. If stain of hematoma is large, it is possible that blood from under nail will have to be taken out. Doctor will make small hole in nail to drain blood of subungual hematoma. If hematoma is very large and painful, whole toenail may need to be removed. Trauma can also lead to broken nails that might be needed to be removed.
Fracture. It is rarely that broken leg bones after fracture can stick through skin. This is called open fracture. In this case emergency care and surgery may be necessary.
Arthritis. After breaking of toes, which is already cured, feet can still hurt because of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects toes. Person experiences pain in legs, stiffness, and toes may be deformed.
Improper healing of tissues after fracture. Sometimes fracture does not heal completely (so-called vicious fusion) or wrong treatment is held (so-called malunion). Often surgery is needed to solve this problem. For example, osteotomy - deformation of bones and joints is eliminated.
When should doctor be referred to about broken toe?
Eergency must be addressed if there are following symptoms of fracture of toe:
- Any signs of possible open fracture, which include open wounds, bleeding, or drainage near broken foot
- Cold, numbness, tingling, or unusual sensations in toes;
- Blue or gray skin around injury.
- Typical crackling (crepitus) during compression of damaged area
- Call doctor if you have any of following cases:
- If condition broken finger worsens or new pain does not pass from analgesics
- Wounds, redness, or open sores on affected leg
- Ankle or lower leg is damaged or broken.
Diagnosis of fracture of toe
It is better to undergo medical examination in order to ensure proper treatment as soon as first symptoms of fracture of toe are seen.
Doctor will ask questions to determine how finger was injured and probably you will have to check for other injuries.
Doctor may recommend X-rays to assess whether or not finger is broken. Radiography is not always necessary to diagnose broken toes, especially if damage is clearly visible in one of smaller fingers.
Stress fractures due to excessive or repetitive motion may require MRI for diagnosis.
First aid for breaking a finger
If you have a broken toe, you must first reduce the pain, and the second - to make less swelling of a broken toe, which will inevitably arise.
The leg should be raised, then the blood flow will go back, and not in the swollen finger. This will reduce swelling and pain.
You need ice that you attach to the sore finger. This will reduce pain due to cold therapy. The ice should not be on the sore finger all the time, but for 15 minutes, then a 5 minute break and ice again. It should be wrapped in a towel, because ice tends to flow when it melts, but why do you need it?
How to treat a fracture
If a finger is broken, it must be fixed in the correct position so that the bones will grow together. To do this, use a tire or plaster. If the junction of the bones is displaced, the fracture will grow together incorrectly, therefore the leg should be at rest until the bones have grown together.
In order to prevent possible infections, sometimes with a fracture an injection against tetanus is done and antibiotics are injected. It eliminates inflammation. Injections against possible infection with bacteria are usually made with open fractures.
During the fracture treatment process
Fracture usually grows over six weeks. All this time, a person needs a doctor's consultation to rule out unforeseen moments in treatment.
First of all, you need to listen to your feelings, and if your finger starts to hurt more, ask for a second consultation.
When you look at the fracture site, look at the color of the skin. If the site of the fracture - redness, you should consult a doctor. It may be an infection.
The skin can also change color to dark blue or grayish - this is also a bad sign.
If an unpleasant tingling, soreness, twitching or numbness appears in the toes, additional consultation is necessary.
If fluid is leaking from the wound in the form of blood or purulent discharge, this is a sign of infection. It is necessary to go again to the clinic to a traumatologist or infectious diseases.
After breaking a finger
Ice can be applied after you have first aid for breaking a finger. Application mode - 15 minutes of ice - 1 hour break, and again 15 minutes of ice. You can do this for a day or two.
You can not give overload to the leg after you put a cast. Otherwise, the bones will get an extra load and the fracture can grow poorly.
Special shoes with orthopedic properties will soften the load on the legs, and especially on the injured toe.
To make sure that the bones have grown together correctly, it is advisable to do an x-ray again after 6 weeks have passed after the fracture.
It is worth knowing that the finger, which was broken, more than others can be affected by diseases such as arthritis, it can cause repeated pain, as well as rigidity (immobility), openness to infections. Therefore, a broken toe should be protected and not subjected to stress.
What are the prognosis for recovery of broken toes?
Consult doctor to ensure that you continue to be treated correctly. Call doctor or emergency if you are having any problems or complications before time prescribed by doctor.
Healing of broken fingers usually takes about six weeks. If problem lasts longer than six weeks, other radiographs may be required.
Damage should be double-checked with help of doctor to assess how bone is healing.
Simple fractures of feet usually heal without any problems. However, serious fracture or fracture of joint is sometimes combined with risk of development of arthritis, pain, stiffness, and even possible disability. Therefore, if you have symptoms of fracture or toe or foot you need to see doctor immediately.