Toe fracture
About Toe fracture
A fracture is a broken bone. The toes are commonly fractured. In most cases the fracture of a toe bone can be treated just by putting a splint on it. If the broken bone punctures the skin (open fracture) antibiotics will be needed to prevent an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis). If there is a loss of alignment with the fracture the bones will be put back in place and splinted. Severe fractures may have an associated tendon, nerve or blood vessel injury.Symptoms
Pain, swelling, bruising of the skin, a crooked toe, pain with movement, numbness of the toe.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical will be done. An x-ray will confirm the diagnosis.OTC sleep aids and supportive treatments
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Most fractures can be treated by splinting the toe. The common technique for splinting is to `buddy tape` the broken toe next to a healthy toe. Splinting keeps the broken edges of the bone from moving very much, and this helps the bone to heal. Badly fractured toes may need surgery to repair the bones or damaged tendons, nerves or blood vessels. OTC pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) can be used. Narcotic pain medications may be prescribed as well including: hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), tramadol and acetaminophen (Ultram), or oxycodone and acetaminophen (Endocet, Percocet). If the bone punctures the skin the injury will need to be cleaned very well and antibiotics may be given to prevent an infection.Medical specialties
Internal Medicine · Orthopedic Surgery · Pediatrics · Family Practice · Podiatry · Foot and Ankle Surgery · Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Toe fracture.