John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Go to a hospital's emergency department if the following signs or symptoms
are present:
Any symptoms of a possible open (compound) fracture which include open
wounds, bleeding, or drainage from near the broken toe;
Cold, numb, tingling, or
unusual sensation in the toes;
Blue or gray colored skin near the injury.
Call a doctor if any of the following occur:
If the broken toe pain worsens or new pain is not relieved by pain
medication;
Sores, redness, or open wounds near the injured toe;
A cast or splint is damaged or broken.
How is a broken toe diagnosed?
It is best to seek medical evaluation soon after the injury to ensure proper
treatment and healing.
A doctor will ask questions to determine how the toe was injured and will
examine the injured toe and possibly check for other injuries.
A doctor may take an X-ray to
evaluate if the toe is broken or fractured. X-rays are
not always necessary to diagnose a broken toe, especially if the break is in one
of the smaller toes.
Stress fractures, due to overuse or repetitive movement,
may need an MRI to
be diagnosed.
What is the treatment for a broken toe?
Caring for a broken toe at home
A broken toe can be can be treated at home (providing it is not necessary to
see a doctor or go to the emergency room for treatment). The following can be done
to help decrease pain and swelling
from a broken toe and to help the fracture heal properly.
Rest: Avoid strenuous
exercise, prolonged standing, or walking. Crutches
may be needed, or a special shoe to wear when walking to avoid putting weight
on the fracture while it heals.
Ice: Put ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the injury for 15-20 minutes
every 1-2 hours for the first 1-2 days. Place a towel between the skin and the
ice to protect the skin. Frozen peas or corn can also be used to ice the broken
toe as well. The peas or corn may conform to the fractured area better than
ice.
Elevation: To decrease swelling and pain, keep the
foot raised above the level of the heart as much as possible. Prop the foot up as much as possible
(for example use several pillows),
especially when sleeping. Reclining in a lounge chair is also helpful.
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria (plantar warts and athlete's foot), or even ingrown toenails. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function. Minor foot pain can usually be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation and OTC medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Severe pain should be treated by a medical professional.
A hematoma is a collection of blood that is outside a blood vessel. There are different areas where hematomas occur including the inside the skull, scalp, ear, septum, bones, finger and toenails, and intra-abdominal. Treatment for hematomas depend on the type and location of the hematoma.
Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
A bruise, or contusion, is caused when blood vessels are damaged or broken as the result of a blow to the skin. The raised area of a bump or bruise results from blood leaking from these injured blood vessels into the tissues as well as from the body's response to the injury. Treatments include applying an ice pack and pressure to the area by hand.
An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, and an injury to muscle or tendon is called a strain. Sprains and strains may be caused by repetitive movements or a single stressful incident. Symptoms include pain and swelling. Though treatment depends upon the extent and location of the injury, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are key elements of treatment.
There are several bones in the foot, and these bones can be broken (fractured) in a variety of ways. Falling from heights, dropping heavy objects on the foot, or stress fractures from running or walking. Treatment of a broken foot depends on what bone in the foot is broken.
First aid is a complicated subject and it is situation-specific. First aid is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured person, but to a person who is sick. Preparedness is a key element of first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of more critical first aid emergencies.
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