Broken Toe Management.

Broken toe?... How can you tell?

The first signs of a broken toe will be pain and a bruised, discolored toe may occur shortly after the initial trauma. Most toe fractures are the result of direct trauma of some kind.

Please note: "Fracture" is a term commonly used in place of "broken" and vice versa when talking about broken bones of any kind.

Stubbing toes and dropping things on them is extremely common. But, how do you know if it's a fractured toe?

Most broken or fractured toes will be swollen, red/or bruised, inflamed and painful (often moreso at night). It is always best to x-ray a foot following trauma to evaluate the damage.

Occasionally, broken foot bones may occur as a result of systemic disorders such as osteoporosis. For this reason evaluation is important especially when there seems to be no obvious history of trauma which has caused the fractured toe.

How do you treat a broken toe?

Fractured toe treatment involves:

Elimination of pressure from shoes/boots.

Splinting is often best to encourage healing with correct toe alignment.

Your podiatrist can advise you on this following x-ray evaluation. Just look under 'P' in the Yellow Pages or visit "Find a Podiatrist" to find a podiatrist close to you.

Surgery is rarely necessary unless the fracture has severely distorted the shape of the toe or where skin penetration by the toe bone has occurred.

How can you prevent toe fractures?

Toe fractures are best prevented by:

Wearing appropriate safety shoes/boots. This includes the use of steel toe safety shoes or a steel toe work boot where boots are required;

Ensuring protective footwear is worn whenever lifting or working with heavy objects or machinery;

See your Podiatrist or Doctor if you notice any sudden onset of pain, discomfort, redness or swelling of the foot or the toes.

For more information on broken toe treatment and foot pain please visit our Foot Pain page.

WARNING : This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional podiatric advice. Treatment will vary between individuals depending upon your diagnosis and presenting complaint. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following personal consultation with a Podiatrist, your Doctor or your foot specialist.

Still have a question about your foot problem, leg pain or you just need some footwear advice?

Visit our Foot Problems page and ask us a question about your specific problem. We'll do our best to help.

To find a Podiatrist or Foot Doctor near you visit our Find a Podiatrist page and click on your country.

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