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Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)

Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)

What is a toe fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. A toe fracture is when a person breaks a bone in the toe (figure 1).

There are different types of fractures, depending on which bone breaks and how it breaks. When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all of the way through, or shatter.

If a broken bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound, doctors call it an "open" fracture. If the bone does not stick out of the skin or cannot be seen through a wound, doctors call it a "closed" fracture.

A toe fracture can happen if a person stubs their toe, the toe is bent to the side, or something drops on the toe.

What are the symptoms of a toe fracture? — Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the type of break it is. Common symptoms can include:

Pain, swelling, or bruising over the area

The toe looks abnormal, bent, or not the usual shape

Not being able to move the toe

Trouble walking or putting weight on that foot

Numbness in the area of the broken bone

Is there a test for a toe fracture? — Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray. They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How is a toe fracture treated? — Treatment depends, in part, on the type of toe fracture you have and how severe it is. The goal of treatment is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so that the bone can heal.

If the ends of the broken bone are already in line with each other, toe fractures are usually treated with "buddy taping" (figure 2). Buddy taping involves taping the injured toe to the toe next to it. In some cases, the doctor will have you use a rigid shoe or walking boot, or place a short-leg walking cast to limit toe movement.

If the ends of your broken bone are not in line with each other, the doctor will need to line them up:

Sometimes, the doctor can move the bone to the correct position without doing surgery, and then put a splint on or buddy tape your toe. This is called "closed fracture reduction."

A severe toe fracture, in which a joint is damaged or the bones do not stay in position, is treated with surgery. During surgery, the doctor puts the toe bone back in position. To do this, they can use screws, pins, wires, or plates to fix the bones inside of the toe. This is called "open fracture reduction."

How long does a toe fracture take to heal? — Most toe fractures take weeks to months to heal. The doctor or nurse will talk to you about when to return to things like work, sports, or other activities.

Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.

How do I care for myself at home? — To care for yourself or your child at home:

Follow the doctor's instructions for buddy taping your toe. Put cotton or other soft material between your toes so they don't rub together (figure 2).

Follow the doctor's instructions for wearing a rigid shoe, walking boot, or walking cast. This supports and protects the bone as it heals. Most people can put weight on their foot and walk around while wearing the rigid shoe, walking boot, or cast.

Do not get a cast wet unless the doctor says that it is waterproof.

Follow instructions for limiting activity and movement until the bone is healed. The doctor or nurse will tell you what activities are safe to do.

Prop the injured foot on pillows, keeping it above the level of the heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.

The doctor might recommend an over-the-counter pain medicine. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

Some people get a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time. Follow the instructions for taking these medicines.

Ice can help with pain and swelling:

Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the skin.

Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after the injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

Eat a healthy diet that includes getting plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 3).

If you smoke, try to quit. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

There is less feeling or movement in the toes or foot.

The toe becomes swollen or starts to hurt more.

The skin becomes red or irritated around the cast, or redness starts to spread up the foot.

The cast feels too tight and uncomfortable, or the toes turn pale, blue, or gray.

There is a bad smell or drainage coming from the cast.

The cast feels too loose, you notice a crack in the cast, or the cast becomes soft.

The cast gets wet, and it is not supposed to get wet.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)

Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
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