A toe fracture is a serious injury. It’s typically caused by stubbing the toe or having something fall onto the toe. Immediately following the injury, your toe will throb. You may also hear the cracking sound of a toe bone breaking. A broken toe often swells, and the skin around the injury usually becomes bruised. All of this leads to pain that can make it difficult or impossible to bear weight on the toe. Severe breaks can also cause the toe to dislocate and bend at an unnatural angle. In an open fracture, the broken bone may even poke through the skin. If you have injured your toe, it’s strongly suggested that you seek the care of a chiropodist as soon as possible. 

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.