Broken toe

rdf:langString Broken toe

rdf:langString Broken toe

rdf:langString Broken toe

rdf:langString Visualisation, X-rays

rdf:langString Sudden

rdf:langString Pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling, displacement of the bones.

rdf:langString For pain and swelling, rest, icing, elevation and pain medication; wearing a stiff-soled shoe; for smaller toes, buddy wrapping ; rarely, a cast or surgery

rdf:langString right

rdf:langString second and third toes wrapped in padding and a bandage, leaving the big toe free File:Buddy-taping-toe.png

rdf:langString fourth and fifth toes wrapped in a loop of tape which crosses over the bases of the toes, with the ends overlapping onto the body of the foot.

rdf:langString X-ray shows a small portion broken off the corner of the distal bone, and a [more longitudinal fracture in the bone in the middle of the toe?}, ]

rdf:langString no

rdf:langString X-rays of fractures of the proximal and distal phalanges in the little toe.

rdf:langString Buddy-taping toes, using the most suitable adjacent toe to splint the broken toe.

rdf:langString Stubbing or crushing over-extending a toe joint, stress fracture

rdf:langString File:Buddy-taped toes.jpg

rdf:langString File:Phalanges of left foot - animation01.gif File:Phalanges of left foot - animation02.gif Toe bones or phalanges of the foot. Note the big toe has no middle phalanx. People vary; sometimes the smallest toe also has none .

rdf:langString Common, 8-9% of all fractures

rdf:langString Bedroom fracture

rdf:langString 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 a stiff-soled shoe. 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. Broken pinky toes are to blame in 45% of individuals complaining of loss of balance.

rdf:langString Compromised blood circulation; malunion, long-term pain, degenerative joint disease, infection

rdf:langString Over-the-counter painkillers