Broken Toes Need Treatment

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At Texas Foot Specialists we want to dispel a common podiatric myth: there’s nothing that can be done for a broken toe so there’s no point seeking treatment. This is absolutely false! In fact, fractured toe bones that are not treated properly can result in several complications and long-term problems, including:

  • A permanent deformity in the bone structure of the foot which could limit mobility and make it difficult to find shoes that fit comfortably.

  • Arthritis at the site of the injury.

  • Long-term foot pain.

  • The need for surgeries in the future to repair a bone break that does not heal.

Two Types of Fractures

Acute Fractures: these fractures are caused by a trauma to the toes in the form of a severe stubbing or a heavy blow or object falling on the foot. You may feel extreme pain in your toe when the injury occurs, but it may dissipate after a few hours. Don’t be fooled by this or by the fact that you can still walk on the toe. These are not signs that the toe is okay. Other indicators of an acute fracture include an abnormal or crooked appearance to the toe and bruising or swelling the following day.

Stress Fracture: this type of fracture can be trickier to detect. It consists of a tiny, hairline break and may seem to come on gradually. Symptoms of a stress fracture are pain during or after activity that may go away when you rest your foot. The toe may feel tender to the touch and you may see swelling but usually no bruising.

Treatment Options

Our podiatrists, Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller will first assess the condition of your toe and may order x-rays or other tests to confirm a fracture and its severity. The foot doctor will then prescribe the right treatment for you which may include one or more of the following:

  • Rest

  • Splinting

  • Wearing stiff soled or rigid shoes the protect the toe and helps keep it in the proper position.

  • Buddy taping the fractured to another toe

If you are have had an injury to one of your toes or are just experiencing ongoing pain, contact our Pasadena (281) 991-0600, Sugar Land (281) 242-4448 and Houston (713) 664-6677 office.