Broken toe
| Broken toe | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Bedroom fracture, nightstand fracture, nightwalker fracture |
| X-rays of fractures of the proximal (left) and distal (right) phalanges in the little toe. | |
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
| Symptoms | Pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling, displacement of the bones. |
| Complications | Compromised blood circulation; malunion, long-term pain, degenerative joint disease, infection |
| Usual onset | Sudden |
| Causes | Stubbing or crushing over-extending a toe joint, stress fracture |
| Diagnostic method | Visualisation, X-rays |
| Treatment | For pain and swelling, rest, icing, elevation and pain medication; wearing wide, flat, comfortable, stiff-soled shoes; for smaller toes, buddy wrapping (taping the toe to the nearest toe, with some absorbent padding in-between); rarely, a cast or surgery |
| Medication | Over-the-counter painkillers |
| Prognosis | 4 to 8 weeks for full healing; pain lessens within days |
| Frequency | Common, 8–9% of all fractures |
A broken toe is a type of bone fracture. Symptoms include pain when the toe is touched near the break point, or compressed along its length (as if gently stubbing the toe). There may be bruising, swelling, stiffness, or displacement of the broken bone ends from their normal position.
Toes usually break because they have been stubbed or crushed. Crushing breaks are often caused by dropping something on the toe. More rarely, over-extending a toe joint can break off a portion of the bone, and stress fractures are possible, especially just after a sudden increase in activity. Diagnosis can be based on symptoms and X-rays.
Fractures of the smaller toes are usually treated with rest, buddy taping (taping the toe to the nearest toe, with some absorbent padding in-between), and wearing comfortable, wide-toed, flat, stiff-soled shoes. For pain and swelling of all toes, rest, icing, elevation and pain medication are used. Pain usually decreases significantly within a week, but the toe may take 4–6 weeks to heal fully. As activity is slowly increased to normal levels, the toe may be a bit sore and stiff. If the bone heals crooked, it may be relocated with or without surgery. Broken toes can usually be cared for at home, unless the break is in the big toe, there is an open wound, or the broken ends of the bone are displaced. In high-force crushing and shearing injuries, especially those with open wounds, blood circulation (tested by capillary refill) can be impaired, which needs urgent professional treatment. More serious broken toes may need to be re-aligned or put in a cast; surgery is rarely needed. These cases may take longer (six to eight weeks) to heal fully.
Broken toes are one of the most common types of fracture seen in doctor's offices, and make up just under 10% of fractures in some offices.