Broken toe

A broken toe is a common injury that's most often caused by dropping something on a foot or stubbing a toe.

Usually, treating a broken toe involves taping it to the next toe. But if the fracture is serious — especially if it's in the big toe — proper healing might require a cast or even surgery to heal well.

Most broken toes heal well, usually within 4 to 6 weeks, but it may take longer. A broken toe may be achy and swollen for 3 to 6 months. Sometimes a broken toe can get infected. Also, the break might increase the risk of getting osteoarthritis in that toe in the future. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis caused by wear and tear that can lead to pain and limited movement.

Signs and symptoms of a broken toe include:

• Pain.
• Swelling.
• Change in skin color from bruising or bleeding under the skin.

When to see a doctor

Contact a healthcare professional if the pain, swelling and change in skin color last for more than a few days or if the injury affects walking or wearing shoes.

Dropping something heavy on a foot and stubbing a toe against something hard are the most common causes of a broken toe.

Complications may include:

• Infection. If the skin is cut near the injured toe, the risk of getting an infection in the bone increases.
• Osteoarthritis. This wear-and-tear type of arthritis is more likely to occur when the fracture affects one of the toe joints.
• Changes in appearance. The toe may heal out of place, leading to a crooked position or lasting changes in how the toe looks or functions.

During the physical exam, a healthcare professional typically checks for tender areas in the toe. They also check the skin around the injury to make sure it's not cut and that the toe is still getting blood flow and nerve signals.

X-rays of the foot can confirm a broken toe. If your healthcare professional suspects a stress fracture, they may recommend an MRI scan.

Medications

You typically can manage pain from a broken toe with medicine you can buy without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and topical pain relief creams.

Reduction

If the broken pieces of the bone don't align correctly, a healthcare professional might need to move the bone pieces back into place. This is known as reduction. It's usually done without cutting the skin. Ice or medicine to numb the toe may be used.

Keeping the toe from moving

To heal, a broken bone must be kept from moving so that its ends can knit back together. Examples include:

• Buddy taping. For a simple fracture in any of the smaller toes, taping the injured toe to one next to it might be all that's needed. The uninjured toe acts like a splint. Putting gauze or felt between the toes before taping can prevent skin soreness.
• Wearing a stiff-bottomed shoe. A healthcare professional might prescribe a postsurgical shoe that has a stiff bottom and a soft top that closes with strips of fabric. This can prevent the toe from moving and provide more room for swelling.
• Casting. If the pieces of the broken toe won't stay snugly together, a walking cast might help.

Surgery

In some cases, a surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to keep the bones in place during healing.

Raising the foot and using ice can help reduce swelling and pain. Prop your foot up when possible so that your injury is higher than your heart. If you use ice, wrap it in a towel so that it doesn't touch your skin. Use ice for about 15 minutes at a time, taking a break of at least 20 minutes before icing again.

Your healthcare professional might refer you to a specialist in orthopedic surgery.

What you can do

You may want to write a list that includes:

• Details about your symptoms.
• How the injury occurred.
• Information about other medical issues you have.
• All the medicines and dietary supplements you take, including doses.
• Questions you want to ask your healthcare professional.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional may ask some of the following questions:

• Were you barefoot at the time of the injury?
• Exactly where does it hurt?
• Is more than one toe involved?
• Does your injury feel better or worse when you move your foot certain ways?