How to heal a broken toe

Video: What is the Best Treatment for a Broken Toe? (and why you should NEVER buddy tape a stubbed toe)

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 4: Diagnosing Trauma
Part 2 of 4: Treating a stress fracture
Part 3 of 4: Treating Open Fractures
Part 4 of 4: Complications
Tips
Warnings

The toes are made up of small bones (phalanges) that can break with blunt trauma. Most fractures of the toes are stress (fatigue) fractures and microcracks, that is, a crack in a small surface that is not large enough to dislodge bones or rupture the surface of the skin. Less commonly, there are cases where the toe breaks so that the bones are completely crushed (fragment fracture) or severely displaced and protrude through the skin (open fracture). It is very important to understand the severity of a finger injury as it helps determine the direction of treatment to be followed.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Diagnosing Trauma

1 Make an appointment with your doctor. If you experience sudden pain in your toe after an injury that has not gone away for several days, you should make an appointment with your family doctor. The doctor will examine your toe and foot, ask how you injured your toe, and may even give you an X-ray to determine the extent of the injury and the type of fracture. But since the therapist is not a musculoskeletal specialist, he or she may refer you to a traumatologist or other specialist.
- The most common symptoms of a broken toe include severe pain, swelling, numbness, and blue toe from internal bleeding. At the same time, it is difficult for a person to walk, not to mention excruciating pain when running or jumping.
- Other professionals who can diagnose and / or heal a broken finger include trauma, osteopaths, orthopedists, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
2 See a specialist. Microcracks, comminuted fractures, and bruises are not serious medical injuries, but a badly crushed toe or a displaced phalanx fracture often requires surgery, especially if it involves the big toe. Medical professionals such as orthopedists (bone and joint specialists) or physical therapists (muscle and bone specialists) can better assess the severity of the fracture and suggest appropriate treatment. Broken fingers can sometimes be associated with certain conditions that affect and weaken the bone, such as bone cancer, bone infection (osteomyelitis), osteoporosis, or complications from diabetes, so your doctor should consider these conditions when examining your finger.
- X-rays, bone scans, MRIs, computed tomography and ultrasound scans can all be used to make a diagnosis.
- Broken toes are usually the result of injury from a heavy object falling onto the leg or from being struck by a finger on something hard and immobile.
3 Know the types of fractures and how to treat them. Ask your doctor to clearly explain the diagnosis (including the type of fracture) and the different types of treatment, since a normal stress fracture can be treated at home. The difference is a mutilated, bent, or deformed toe, which is a sign of a more serious fracture and needs professional help.
- Most often, people break their thumb and little finger.
- A misaligned joint can lead to a curvature of the toe that looks like a fracture, but a physical exam and x-ray can help distinguish between the two.

Part 2 of 4: Treating a stress fracture

1 Follow the R.I.C.E or CBE treatment system (rest, ice, compresses and lifting). The most effective treatment for minor injuries of the musculoskeletal system (including stress fractures) is R.I.C.E (rest - rest, ice - ice, compression - compresses, elevation - lifting). The first step is rest. Stop any activity temporarily to heal the injury. A cold compress (ice wrapped in a thin towel or frozen gel packs) should then be applied to the broken finger as soon as possible to stop internal bleeding and reduce inflammation. In doing so, it is advisable that your leg is raised and resting on a chair or pillows (this will also reduce inflammation). Ice should be applied for 10-15 minutes every hour, and when pain and swelling have subsided, apply ice less and less. Inflammation can also be reduced by pressing ice to the leg with an elastic bandage.
- Do not tie the elastic bandage too tight and do not leave it on for more than 15 minutes, otherwise the complete restriction of blood flow can lead to even more damage to the leg.
- Most uncomplicated broken fingers heal within 4-6 weeks, after which you can gradually return to sports.
2 Take over-the-counter medications. Your doctor may recommend that you start taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetylsalicylic acid, or conventional analgesics (pain relievers) based on acetaminophen to reduce inflammation and pain in your injured toe.
- Preparations based on these substances usually have a negative effect on the stomach, liver and kidneys, so they should not be taken for more than two weeks.
3 Bandage your finger. Tie the broken toe to the adjacent non-injured toe (that is, apply a tourniquet) to align it if it wrinkles slightly. Thoroughly wipe your toes and feet with alcohol wipes, then wrap your toes with a medical bandage, preferably waterproof. Change the bandage every few days for several weeks.
- Consider putting cheesecloth between your fingers to avoid irritation.
- To make a simple home splint for extra support, you should take two cut ice cream sticks and place them on either side of the broken toe before bandaging it.
- If you cannot bind your fingers yourself, then ask your family doctor or other specialist (traumatologist, orthopedist, or physical therapist) to help you.
4 Wear comfortable shoes for the next 4-6 weeks. Immediately after the injury, you need to switch to comfortable shoes with a free toe, where a swollen toe with a tourniquet will easily fit. Instead of trendy shoes, opt for special shoes with heavy soles and forget about high heels for at least a few months. High-heeled shoes shift the weight forward, which puts a lot of pressure on the toes.
- If the inflammation is severe, you can switch to open-toed sandals, but remember that these shoes do not protect your toes.

Part 3 of 4: Treating Open Fractures

1 Reduction operation. If the fragments of the broken bones do not match, the orthopedic surgeon will return the fragments to their original position - this operation is called reduction. Depending on the number and location of the bone fragments, sometimes the reduction can be performed without invasive surgery. Local anesthetics are injected into the finger to numb it. If the skin has been damaged as a result of injury, then it is sewn up and a local antiseptic is applied.
- In open fractures, time is of the essence due to the potential for blood loss and the risk of infection and necrosis (skin death due to lack of oxygen).
- You may be prescribed strong pain relievers before you are put under anesthesia before surgery.
- Sometimes, for severe fractures, pins or screws may be used to hold the bone during recovery.
- Reduction is used not only for open fractures, but also for other types of fractures with significant bone displacement.
2 Wear a splint. After reduction of the broken toe, splints are often applied to support and protect the toe during recovery. You may also be prescribed compression shoes and crutches for about two weeks. During this period, it is recommended to walk as little as possible and rest as much as possible, while the leg should be raised.
- While the splint does provide some support and shock absorption, it does not provide adequate protection, so be extra careful not to bump your toe while walking.
- During recovery, your diet should be rich in minerals, especially calcium, magnesium and boron, as well as vitamin D to strengthen bone.
3 Gypsum. If you have broken more than one toe or injured the front of your leg (such as the metatarsus), then your doctor may apply a cast to the entire leg. If the bone fragments are constantly loosened, it is also recommended to wear a short cast. Most bones are healed successfully when they are set and protected from further injury and excessive pressure.
- Depending on the location and severity of the injury, the healing of broken fingers after surgery and with a cast is usually about 6–8 weeks. After such a long period in a cast, the leg may need rehabilitation, described below.
- After one to two weeks, your doctor may send you another x-ray to make sure your bones are in alignment and healing properly.

Part 4 of 4: Complications

1 Watch out for signs of infection. If the skin next to the broken toe is damaged, the risk of infection inside the bone or surrounding tissue increases. With an infection, the finger swells, turns red, becomes warm and very soft to the touch. Sometimes pus may leak from the infected area (this is how leukocytes - white blood cells work), accompanied by an unpleasant odor. If you have an open fracture, your doctor may prescribe a two-week preventive course of oral antibiotics to stop the infection from growing and spreading.
- If you get an infection, your doctor will prescribe appropriate antibiotics for you.
- After a serious fracture, your doctor may advise you to get a tetanus shot if your skin is punctured or torn during the fracture.
2 Wear orthopedic shoes. Orthopedic shoes are equipped with special insoles that provide support for the deflection of the foot and better biomechanics while walking and running. If you break your toe, especially if it's a big toe, it can affect your gait and biomechanics of the foot, and you will start to limp and stumble. Orthopedic shoes can help reduce the risk of problems in other joints, such as the ankle, knees, and hips.
- There is always a risk of developing arthritis in the surrounding joints with a serious fracture, but orthopedic shoes can reduce this risk.
3 Get physical therapy. After the pain and inflammation have healed and the broken toe has healed, you may notice your leg's strength and range of motion decrease. If so, ask your doctor to refer you to a sports medicine specialist or physical therapist who can offer you a range of individually tailored strengthening exercises, stretching, and treatments to improve range of motion, balance, coordination, and strength.
- Other professionals who can help with toe / toe rehabilitation include an orthopedist, osteopath, and chiropractor.

Tips

If you have diabetes or peripheral neuropathy (loss of sensation in your toes), do not bandage your fingers together, as you will not be able to feel blistering and determine if the bandage is tight.
It is not necessary to completely stop physical activity while the toe heals. You can replace exercises that put pressure on your leg, such as swimming or lifting weights with your upper body.
Apply cold compresses for 10 days first, and then replace them with moist warm compresses (for example, you can heat a package of rice or beans in the microwave). This therapy can help relieve pain and promote better blood flow to the affected area.
You can use acupuncture as an alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. It can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.