Broken toes are most often caused by trauma or injury to your toe or foot, such as dropping something on your foot or stubbing your toe. If you’re experiencing severe pain that worsens when you attempt to walk or wear a shoe, you may have a broken toe.
The toe is comprised of three phalanx bones called the proximal, middle, and distal, with the exception of the big toe, which contains only two phalanx bones (proximal and distal).
A toe fracture is a break in one or more of these bones. Symptoms of a broken toe may include nail injury, swelling, bruising, discoloration, infection, or a deformed appearance of your toe. Osteoarthritis may occur if your fracture has extended into one or more of your toe joints.
As soon as the injury has occurred, apply ice wrapped in a towel to the injured area to decrease pain and reduce swelling. Consult a doctor if the pain, swelling and discoloration continue for more than a few days or if your injury interferes with walking or wearing shoes. Most broken toes heal well, normally within four to six weeks.
Taping the injured toe to a neighboring toe and enabling it to heal without requiring any surgery may help treat a fractured toe. Sometimes a cast or boot is required to help a broken toe heal properly. For more serious toe fractures in which the broken bone or bones do not line up properly, surgery may be required to realign them.
Signature Medical Group’s practitioners are board-certified orthopedic surgeons whose expertise, experience, and leadership in their profession translate into exceptional medical care and treatment for you.
Make an appointment today with one of our many St. Louis or Kansas City orthopedic specialists if you suspect you or a loved one may have a fractured toe.