Toe fracture: symptoms and treatment methods

A fracture of the toe can occur due to very tight shoes, a strong blow, tucking of the foot and so on. But there are also pathological conditions of the phalanges that arise as a result of some diseases that provoke a significant decrease in bone strength. These include osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, hyperparatiosis, cancer, and so on. However, today we will consider only those cases when a toe fracture occurred mechanically due to an unsuccessful fall, impact, etc.

Types of Fractures

Currently, joint fractures are classified as follows:

• Open (that is, fragments of bone tissue break through the muscle, ligaments and skin, as a result of which they come out and come in contact with the environment).
• Closed (i.e. the finger bone is broken, but any external damage is completely absent).
• No offset.
• With offset.
• Incomplete
• Complete.
• Localized (that is, only the nail phalanx is broken, etc.).

The main signs of a toe fracture

Of course, not to notice this deviation is quite difficult. But there are also such cases that outwardly a person cannot independently understand whether his phalanx bone is broken or is it a severe bruise. In this regard, in medical practice, all the symptoms were divided into relative (that is, a fracture is considered only implied) and absolute, which accurately indicate that the bone is really broken.

So, you have a broken toe if:

• the impact site is very painful;
• finger swelling;
• there is hemorrhage under the skin or nail plate;
• it is very painful to move.

The absolute signs include the following:

• obvious crunch of bone fragments when pressed;
• unnatural position of the phalanx relative to the limb;
• pathological movements that differ from the norm.

The intensity of the symptom data largely depends on where exactly the fracture of the toe occurred. For example, damage to the main phalanx is almost always painful, while others can not be immediately noticed at all.

Treatment technique

In each case, the method of treatment of such a deviation is selected individually by the traumatologist personally. If the fracture is open or with a displacement, then in addition to returning the bone tissue to its place, as well as fixing it (gypsum should be worn for at least 6-8 weeks), the patient is often prescribed antibiotic therapy to prevent infection in the wound. It is also worth noting that the treatment technique depends on where the damage is located.

1. The nail phalanx. With this deviation, anesthetic injection is made, the nail and accumulated blood are removed under the skin, and then broken fragments are fixed.
2. If the main or middle phalanx is damaged, then a gypsum plantar longuet is applied to the foot (wear for at least 5-8 weeks).
3. In case of fracture of the large phalanx, a plaster cast is applied from the upper third part of the lower leg to the finger. As a rule, healing occurs within 1-1.5 months.