A broken toe is a common injury, usually caused by dropping a heavy object on the foot or hitting the toe on something. It usually takes four to six weeks to heal.
A break or a crack in a bone is also known as a fracture.
This advice is about the care of a toe following an injury. If you’re not sure whether the toe is broken see your doctor, especially if you have diabetes.
How do I know if I’ve broken my toe?
A broken toe will be painful, swollen and red. There may be bruising of the skin around the area and sometimes a collection of blood beneath the toenail. You will find it difficult to walk and wearing a shoe will be painful.
If the break is severe, the toe may stick out at an angle.
When to see a doctor
- The pain gets worse or is not relieved by ordinary painkillers.
- The swelling or discolouration doesn’t improve after a few days.
- You have a wound near the injured toe, which will need cleansing to prevent infection.
When to go to hospital
Go to see a doctor if:
- your toes are cold and numb or tingling (as you may have damaged the nerves)
- the skin on your toe has turned blue or grey
- you have severely injured the toe
Severe toe fractures
If the break is severe and bone has broken away at an angle, this will need to be moved back into place during a procedure known as a reduction.
You will be given an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the area and doctors can often realign the bone through the skin without making any cuts.
If a break is particularly severe, surgery may be needed so that special pins or screws can be fixed to the broken bone to keep it in place while it heals.
A broken big toe may need to be supported in a cast.
You may be given crutches so you can walk without putting weight on the toe.
A broken toe bone that has pierced the skin and damaged the surrounding tissue may become infected, so the wound will need to be cleansed regularly.
