Any toe on your foot can break from an impact injury or other accident. Pain, inflammation, redness, difficulty walking or wearing a shoe, and blood under the toenail are all symptoms you may experience if you break your toe. In severe cases, your toe may be broken at an angle, or your toes may be numb, tingling, or discolored. Depending upon the severity of the break and which toe is broken, treatment can range from icing, resting and elevating, or buddy-taping to an adjacent toe, to immobilization, splinting, casting, bone realignment, or surgery in the most severe cases. If you believe you may have broken your toe, make an appointment with a podiatrist to professional care to ensure proper healing.
A broken toe can be very painful and lead to complications if not properly fixed. If you have any concerns about your feet, contact Dr. Mark Gagnon from Advanced Podiatry. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.
What to Know About a Broken Toe
Although most people try to avoid foot trauma such as banging, stubbing, or dropping heavy objects on their feet, the unfortunate fact is that it is a common occurrence. Given the fact that toes are positioned in front of the feet, they typically sustain the brunt of such trauma. When trauma occurs to a toe, the result can be a painful break (fracture).
Symptoms of a Broken Toe
- Throbbing pain
- Swelling
- Bruising on the skin and toenail
- The inability to move the toe
- Toe appears crooked or disfigured
- Tingling or numbness in the toe
Generally, it is best to stay off of the injured toe with the affected foot elevated.
Severe toe fractures may be treated with a splint, cast, and in some cases, minor surgery. Due to its position and the pressure it endures with daily activity, future complications can occur if the big toe is not properly treated.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Crestwood, Orland Park, and Summit, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
