Broken toe

A broken toe is a break, or fracture, in a bone of your toe. A fracture can range from a hairline crack in the bone to the bone being broken into two or more pieces that no longer line up correctly.

Symptoms of a broken toe may include pain when you move your toe. You may have noticed a snap or pop at the time of injury. There may be swelling and bruising. The toe may also be in a different position than normal.

A broken toe is diagnosed through a physical examination. Your health professional will look for swelling, purple or black and blue spots, and tenderness. An X-ray may be needed to determine whether the toe is broken or dislocated.

Some broken toes can be cared for at home. Try using ice, elevating the foot, and resting.

Treatment depends on which toe is broken, where in the toe the break is, and how bad the break is. Medical treatment is needed more often for a broken big toe than for the other toes. If you don't have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, your toe can be buddy-taped to the healthy toe next to it. Put some soft padding, such as felt or foam, between your toes before you tape them together. This helps protect the skin. Your injured toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. If your injured toe hurts more after buddy taping it, take the tape off.

Other treatment may be needed. Your doctor may recommend:

• Wearing a splint or cast to keep the toe stable and help it heal.
• Surgery. This may be an option for a bad break.

A fracture that isn't treated may cause long-term pain, limited movement, and deformity.

• If your child's toe is taped to the toe next to it, the doctor has shown you how to change the tape. Protect the skin by putting something soft, such as felt or foam, between the toes before you tape them together. Never tape the toes together skin-to-skin. Your child's broken toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal.
• Have your child rest and protect the toe. Your child should not walk on it until it can be can done without too much pain. If the doctor has prescribed crutches, help your child use them as instructed.
• Put ice or a cold pack on the toe for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
• Prop up your child's foot on a pillow when you ice it or anytime your child sits or lies down. Try to keep it above the level of your child's heart. This will help reduce swelling.
• Make sure you go to your child's follow-up appointments. The doctor will need to check that the toe is healing right.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask the doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.