A broken toe is a common foot injury that generally causes discomfort and pain. Many people choose to walk on a broken toe even though it needs adequate rest to heal properly. A broken toe can occur from dropping a heavy object on it, or by jamming into a piece of furniture. Patients often know they have broken a toe because of noticeable symptoms that rapidly appear. These can include bruising, and swelling, and in severe fractures, the toe may look displaced. The buddy taping method can be successful if the break is mild. Buddy taping is accomplished by wrapping the affected toe to the toe next to it, which can provide stability as the healing process begins. The average time for a broken toe to completely heal is approximately six weeks and it is strongly advised to keep the weight off as much as possible. If you have broken your toe, please confer with a chiropodist who can diagnose and treat this foot condition.

A broken toe typically occurs following either a sudden, traumatic injury, like dropping a heavy piece of furniture on the toe. The impact causes the bone to fracture and produces a variety of painful symptoms. If you suspect that you’ve broken your toe, please consult with Chiropodist Stephanie Poupore from North Bay Foot & Ankle. Our clinician can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Symptoms

• Throbbing pain

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Cracking sound at the time of injury

• Difficulty bearing weight on the toe

• Difficulty walking

• Toe resting at an unnatural angle

Diagnosis

Your chiropodist can diagnose a broken toe through physical examination and imaging studies, such as X-rays. 

Treatment

The main goals of treatment are to ensure that the bone heals properly, as a toe fracture that doesn’t heal properly can lead to osteoarthritis. You will typically need to rest the affected toe. You may be prescribed a splint to immobilize the toe while it heals. Icing the affected toe and taking over-the-counter medications can help reduce pain. In cases of severe fractures, surgery may be necessary to reset the broken bones and make sure that they heal correctly.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.