Medicines for Broken toe

What it is

A broken toe (toe fracture) is a break in one of the small bones of a toe. It is a common and usually minor injury, most often caused by stubbing the toe hard, dropping something heavy on the foot, or a fall. The symptoms of a broken toe can include: pain, swelling, and tenderness in the toe; bruising, sometimes spreading to the surrounding area or under the toenail; difficulty or pain when walking (though many people can still walk); and, in some cases, the toe looking bent or out of shape. It can be hard to tell a broken toe from a bad sprain, as both are painful and swollen, but this often does not matter much for the little toes, because the treatment is usually the same and most broken toes heal well on their own without needing an X-ray or specific treatment. A broken big toe, or a toe that looks bent, out of shape, or badly injured, is more likely to need assessment, as it may need realigning. Most broken toes are managed at home with simple self-care — resting the foot, protecting the toe (for example by "buddy strapping" it to the next toe), wearing supportive, roomy footwear, and pain relief — and heal over a few weeks. Assessment is worthwhile if the toe is very painful, badly swollen or bruised, looks bent or out of shape, if it is the big toe, if the skin is broken, if pain and swelling do not improve, or if there are concerns (particularly in people with diabetes or poor circulation, where foot injuries need more care). The key messages are that most broken toes are minor and heal with simple self-care, and that certain features — a bent or big toe, a bad injury, or a broken skin — should be assessed.

How it is treated

Most broken toes are minor and heal on their own with simple self-care, with assessment for more significant injuries. Self-care measures include: resting the foot and avoiding activities that hurt; applying ice (wrapped) in the early days to reduce swelling; elevating the foot when possible; "buddy strapping" the injured toe to the next one for support (with a little padding between them), if advised; wearing sturdy, comfortable, roomy footwear (or a stiff-soled shoe) that protects the toe and does not press on it; and taking simple pain relief. Most broken toes heal over a few weeks with these measures, and an X-ray or specific treatment is often not needed, particularly for the smaller toes. Assessment (at a minor injuries unit, urgent care, or GP) is worthwhile if: the toe looks bent, crooked, or out of shape (it may need realigning); it is the big toe (which bears more weight and is more likely to need assessment or treatment); the injury was severe, or there is a lot of pain, swelling, or bruising; the skin is broken or there is a wound (which raises the risk of infection); the pain and swelling do not improve, or you cannot walk; or there are concerns — particularly in people with diabetes or poor circulation, where foot injuries need careful attention. If needed, treatment may include realigning a displaced toe, or, rarely, other treatment for more complex fractures. During recovery, keeping the foot elevated helps swelling, and a gradual return to normal footwear and activity follows as the toe heals. It is worth seeking attention for signs of infection (increasing pain, redness, swelling, pus, or feeling unwell), or increasing pain, numbness, or colour change. The reassuring message is that the great majority of broken toes are minor and heal well with simple self-care over a few weeks, while a bent toe, a broken big toe, a severe injury, broken skin, or foot injuries in people with diabetes or poor circulation should be assessed.