Broken toes, which can be caused by traumatic injuries or stress fractures, can result in pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking. Other symptoms include misshapen toes, protruding bones, and damaged nails. It is important to seek medical attention for evaluation and treatment.
Of the 26 bones in the foot, 19 are the toes, also called the phalanges. These bones are commonly broken by traumatic injuries, although stress fractures are also possible. When a person has a broken toe, a variety of symptoms can occur with varying intensity. Broken toe symptoms can emerge immediately or they can appear months or years later. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking; sometimes the toe will look misshapen, the bone may protrude through the skin, and the nail may be severely damaged.
A broken toe is a fairly common ailment and should be evaluated by a doctor. Fractured toes can be caused by traumatic injuries such as dropping a heavy object on the foot or hitting the toe extremely hard. Cracking can sometimes be heard when it occurs because it may make a cracking or popping sound. The other type of fracture is much less common and is called a stress fracture. This type can occur from repetitive motion and usually takes the form of a hairline in the bone.
When an individual has a broken toe, they may experience a number of symptoms that vary in intensity. A very common symptom is pain in the area of the fracture, the toe usually hurts when touched, and the discomfort can spread to the surrounding area. Swelling, which can be moderate or severe, is also usually present and can cause your shoes to feel uncomfortable. Bruising may appear within the first few hours or may not be apparent until the next day. Particularly in the case of traumatic injuries, bruising can be severe with vivid discoloration.
Other possible symptoms of a broken toe from a traumatic injury include nail damage and occasionally subungual hematoma. A subungual hematoma occurs when there is bleeding from the wound and a large amount of blood becomes trapped under the nail; in some cases it may need to drain through a small hole in the nail. There may also be an open wound at the site of the broken toe, and in some cases the bone may protrude through the skin. In less severe cases where the bones are out of alignment, the toe will appear to have changed shape or may protrude sideways. Some symptoms such as pain and swelling may persist for a long time, the shape of the toe may be permanently changed, and arthritis may develop in the area years later.
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