What is inflammation of a toe, foot, or ankle?
Inflammation is the response of the immune system to injury or infection. It may result in pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or loss of function in the affected body part. Inflammation may affect joints, such as the ankles. Or it may affect extremities, such as the feet or toes.
What first aid steps should you take if you suspect a broken toe, foot, or ankle?
Most minor toe, foot, or ankle injuries will heal on their own. Home treatment is usually all that's needed. But if you think that you might have a more severe injury, use first aid until you can be seen by a doctor.
- Clean a skin wound as soon as you can. This will help prevent infection, scarring, and tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound.
- If a bone is sticking out of your skin, don't try to push it back into your skin. It's better to leave the bone alone. Cover the area with a clean bandage.
- Control bleeding with direct pressure to the wound.
- Remove all anklets or rings right away. It may be hard to remove the jewelry after swelling starts. This can then cause other serious problems, such as a compressed nerve or restricted blood flow.
- Try to free your trapped toe or foot if it's stuck in an object, such as a pipe, toy, or jar. Don't try to force it out, because that could cause more swelling.
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