Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)

What is a toe fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. A toe fracture is when a person breaks a bone in the toe (figure 1).

There are different types of toe fractures. The type of toe fracture depends on which toe bone breaks and how it breaks.

What are the symptoms of a toe fracture? — Symptoms of a toe fracture can include:

●Pain

●Swelling

●Bruising

●Trouble walking

●A crooked-looking toe

Is there a test for a toe fracture? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. They can also order imaging tests like an X-ray or ultrasound. (Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.)

How is a toe fracture treated? — Treatment depends on the type of toe fracture you have and how severe it is.

Treatment for a toe fracture usually involves:

●Resting your foot

●Raising your foot above the level of your heart, for example, by propping it up on pillows – This is helpful only for the first few days after an injury.

●Putting ice on your toe – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the toe every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after the injury. Some people find it helpful to ice up to 2 days after the injury.

●Buddy taping (figure 2) – This involves taping the injured toe to the toe next to it. The doctor or nurse will put some cotton or other soft material between your toes so they don't rub together.

●Wearing a cast, special hard-soled shoe, or rigid boot – Most people can put weight on their foot and walk around while wearing a cast. Before your doctor puts a cast on your foot, they will make sure your toe bones are in the correct position. If your bones are not in the correct position, they might need to do a procedure to put your bones back in the correct position.

Your doctor will also treat your pain. If you have a lot of pain or a severe fracture, your doctor will prescribe a strong pain medicine. If your fracture is mild, your doctor might recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. Over-the-counter pain medicines include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

How long does a toe fracture take to heal? — A toe fracture usually takes weeks to heal, depending on the type of fracture.

Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.

Can I do anything to improve the healing process? — Yes. It's important to follow all of your doctor's instructions while your fracture is healing. This includes instructions about when you can put weight on your foot.

Doctors also usually recommend that people with a fracture:

●Eat a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 3).

●Avoid getting the cast wet, if it's a cast that shouldn't get wet.

●Stop smoking. Fractures can take longer to heal if you smoke.

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — After treatment, your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, you should call if:

●You have severe pain in your foot or leg.

●Your pain, swelling, or bruising gets worse.

●You have numbness or tingling in your toes.

●You damage your cast or get it wet, and it's not supposed to get wet.

●Your cast is too tight or too loose.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Using crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)

Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)