Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSigns and SymptomsDiagnosisWhen to See a DoctorPossible Complications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
When to See a Doctor
Possible Complications
Most people have dropped something on their foot at some point and wondered if they had a broken toe—or if the pain will just go away on its own.
A broken toe may not be obvious, but the most common signs that you fractured it includes severe pain and an audiblecrackingor popping sound that is heard when the small bone in the toe fractures.
Here’s what you should know about broken toes, including causes, symptoms, treatment, and possible complications.
Jeannot Olivet / Getty Images
Most broken toes are the result of dropping something heavy on the toe. However, there are some other less common causes of a broken toe:
Symptoms
A broken toe is a painful injury. The pain typically comes on instantly and is very intense. Other symptoms of a broken toe include:
Typically, these symptoms warrant a visit to your healthcare provider for assessment.
Go to the emergency room if any of the following also apply:
If the trauma to your toe has broken the skin and you can see bone, it is likely that you have a compound fracture, which will require immediate medical care.
For example, if you have an obvious toe deformity, an X-ray will determine if the bone needs any special treatment, such as splinting or applying a cast.
Treatment
Unless it’s serious, most broken toes can be treated modestly.
Less severe toe fractures can sometimes be cared for at home with simple injury treatment that includesrest, ice, and elevation. Keep these tips in mind in the days following your injury:
When intervention is needed, most cases are treated with a splint, orbuddy taping, in which the broken toe is taped to the toe next to it in order to keep it stable and aligned as it heals.
If your injury causes your toe to appear crooked or if you think you’ve broken your big toe, this is considered serious. A broken big toe may require a cast and if your toe appears deformed, a healthcare provider may need to set it back in place or perform surgery.
It is also possible, in rare cases, for a small bit of bone to break off during the trauma of a toe injury, which would require surgery in order for the toe to heal properly.
With proper medical care, most broken toes will health within four to six weeks.
The most common complication of a broken toe is trauma to the toenail of the affected toe. Toenails may become discolored, turn black and blue, and even fall off.
The toenail will usually regrow normally, but it may be wise to see a foot healthcare provider as you heal. A podiatrist can help you avoid ingrown toenails or any infection in the nail bed as your toe heals. If blood collects under the nail, a practitioner may need to make a small hole in the nail to allow the blood to escape.
In addition, some people are more prone tochronic painor stiffness in the affected joint after a broken toe. In some cases, arthritis may later develop in the joint.
If a broken toe isn’t treated properly, nonunion (failure to heal) or malunion (healing in an incorrect position) can occur. This can cause deformity and chronic pain down the line and may be cause for surgery.
A Word From Verywell
Regardless of the suspected cause, you should consult with a healthcare provider aboutany foot painthat continues for more than one week.
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Broken toe - self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Published 2018.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes). Foot Health Facts.Robert L. Hatch, M.D., M.P.H, and Scott Hacking, M.D.,Evaluation and Management of Toe Fractures. The American Academy of Family Physicians.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Broken toe - self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Published 2018.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes). Foot Health Facts.Robert L. Hatch, M.D., M.P.H, and Scott Hacking, M.D.,Evaluation and Management of Toe Fractures. The American Academy of Family Physicians.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Broken toe - self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Published 2018.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes). Foot Health Facts.Robert L. Hatch, M.D., M.P.H, and Scott Hacking, M.D.,Evaluation and Management of Toe Fractures. The American Academy of Family Physicians.
Broken toe - self-care: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. Published 2018.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Toe and Metatarsal Fractures (Broken Toes). Foot Health Facts.
Robert L. Hatch, M.D., M.P.H, and Scott Hacking, M.D.,Evaluation and Management of Toe Fractures. The American Academy of Family Physicians.
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