And This Little Piggy Lived Happily Ever After…

Have you ever stumbled around in the dark, stubbed your toe, and wound up inventing words? Well, join the club. A stubbing injury is one of the most common sources of a broken toe. There are a couple of misconceptions regarding broken toes. It is not true that “nothing” can be done for a broken toe. Also, it is not true that if you can walk on it, it is not broken. There are twenty six bones in the foot, and nineteen of them are either in the toes or long bones in the mid foot area. This makes the foot a complex area of concern. When you fracture any bone, you need to be evaluated to assess the overall damage and receive proper treatment.

Fractures can be divided into two cause factors: traumatic or stress. A traumatic fracture is due to an injury, such as stubbing your toe. A stress fracture is a tiny break that results from hard and repetitive action, such as a basketball player who jumps and lands repeatedly.

Symptoms of a traumatic fracture include:

    ·    Pain in the immediate area

    ·    Perhaps you hear a sound at the time of the break

    ·    Misshapen

    ·    Bruising and discoloration

Symptoms of a stress fracture include:

    ·    Pain during normal activity that disappears when resting

    ·    Swelling

    ·    Painful in the area of fracture when touched.

Because symptoms of fractures and sprains are similar, it is critical that you see Dr. Bowman.  He can examine your foot injury to make sure you receive proper treatment. Failure to get proper treatment can result in complexities ranging from deformity to long term loss of function.

Treatment for broken toes may include “buddy taping.” This means the injured toe is taped to the toe next to it for support. You should wear a supportive shoe to further protect the injury.  A cast is seldom necessary unless the fracture involves the big toe or multiple toes. If the fracture is displaced or a gap is noted, then you may need surgery. Make sure you schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Bowman so he can track your progress. Call (713 ) 467-8886 to schedule.

Broken bones usually take about 6 weeks to heal completely. Follow the doctor’s instructions so you can avoid complications like chronic pain or deformity. This will ensure your little piggies lead a long and happy life. Do you have a broken toe or metatarsal story to relate?  Feel free to share by leaving a comment!

References:

http://www.weil4feet.com/common_toe_metatarsal_fractures.html
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/broken-toe

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