Some accidents have an impact on the feet, particularly on the toes in a rather painful way. Sometimes it can be much more serious when a toe is broken, which will affect the whole body. Indeed, the toes are those which serve as a support for the weight of the body, for balance, but also as a propulsion aid. So how do you diagnose a broken toe and how is it treated? Here's what you need to know.
What causes a broken toe?
A toe injury is most often caused by a violent shockoften by the falling heavy object on one of the toes of the foot. Less frequently, a toe can be fractured by a sudden impact with an object (e.g. while running). The big toe is most at risk of fracture, and is most often diagnosed.
Pain in the toes may be caused by a trauma (collision, dislocation, sprain, fall from a heavy object), a deformation, a inflammation and an infection.
Broken toe: what can be done to relieve the pain?
How do you treat a broken toe? There are a few techniques you can use to relieve the pain, including :
- Installing ice packs on the toe for around 10 to 15 minutes to reduce swelling (repeat frequently throughout the day).
- Taking painkillers to soothe the pain.
- Opt for strapping: the broken toe is attached to the nearest toe using straps. This criss-crossing of straps, applied by a specialist (podiatrist or healthcare professional), will prevent a jointThis will enable an injured muscle or tendon to reproduce the movement that damaged it, and thus speed up the healing process for certain injuries.
- Wear special shoes: to protect the broken toe, wear special shoes or orthopedics...
If you'd like an idea of the treatment you can expect in the event of a broken toe, i.e. if the pain persists or if it's a fairly serious case:
- Fracture reduction Fracture reduction: to realign the toe bones in the event of abnormal movement, in some cases fracture reduction may be necessary.
Surgery Fractures: in the case of serious or complex fractures, surgery to repair the damaged bone may be required.
The doctor will drain the blood that has collected under the broken toenail if necessary.
How long does it take to heal a broken toe?
In general, the recovery of your broken toe will depend on the severity of the fractureMost toe fractures heal within a few weeks to a few months. Generally, the toe will be realigned after at least 6 weeks.
We recommend that you follow your healthcare professional's recommendations to ensure optimal healing and avoid complications.
Even if it's just a toe, ignoring a fractured toe can lead to serious injury. immobility and chronic pain.
How to recognize a broken toe?
Several cases are possible:
Fracture
the foot thumb is most prone to fractures, which are most often the result of a blow to the toe or a heavy object falling on it. The bone of the hallux (big toe) is broken, and the patient feels a acute pain in the big toe, a swelling, a hematomaor even a sensitivity and tingling. Athletes (especially runners) are most at risk of fracturing their big toe.
Sprain
Occurs in certain sports where the hallux plays an important role (e.g. soccer, judo, field field hockey, basketball). This sprain affects the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint, as a result of hyperextension. A pain all over the toe, a swelling Where bruising are just some of the symptoms of this injury.
Hallux valgus (often called "bunion")
This is a genetic conditionwhich manifests itself as a bony deformity of the forefoot. The big toe is progressively deviated from its axis and is directed towards the second toe, and is no longer parallel to the others, which alters the points of support and causes the other toes to twist. Bunions are more common in women (especially after the menopause) and in people with neuromuscular or rheumatic diseases.
Particularly painful, it can, in time, lead to protrusion on the outside of the foot's thumb. In some cases, redness and the development of corns and calluses are also observed. This can be remedied by avoiding shoes that are likely to cause this deformity (e.g. shoes that are too tight, pointed or high-heeled).
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