Broken Toe and Metatarsal Fracture: symptoms & treatment options

Acute Toe and Metatarsal Breaks

Traumatic toe breaks (also called acute fractures) are usually the result of a traumatic injury. The toe typically hits the side of a table or solid object and is rotated sideways causing a fracture to occur. A break can also occur if a heavy object is dropped on the toe.

Symptoms of an Acute Toe Break

The symptoms of a traumatic toe break vary. Some patients report hearing a “crack” at the time of the break and the pain is generally localized at the place of impact. The fractured toe may appear to be crooked and bruising or swelling can occur the day following the injury

Stress Fractures of the Toe and Metatarsal Bone

A stress fracture is usually an overuse-type of injury that produces a small crack in the bone. It is due to either normal amounts of stress to a weakened bone, or abnormal amounts of stress to a normal bone. Often patients report having increased the intensity of their exercise or recently begun a new workout regimen. This can put excess stress on a region of the foot or ankle resulting in a small crack or a stress fracture. The stress fracture may also be the result of osteoporosis or a bone deformity in the foot.

What are the symptoms of a stress fracture?

Patients often report that pain is worsened with increased or repetitive activities. There is typically localized swelling in the area of the fracture that becomes worse with activity. There may also be slight burning from the swelling, as well as tenderness in the area of a stress fracture.

What Can be Done for a Broken Toe?

Some people think “doctors can’t do anything for a broken toe” but this is simply not true. While many toe breaks can be treated simply, if they are not properly attended to, complications can occur. These include:

• Arthritis: Yes, a broken toe can develop arthritis if the bones are displaced as a result of the break and not properly realigned. This is especially true if the break involves a joint
• Chronic pain
• Failure to heal: Not only may it not get better, but it can also continually worsening pain.
• Deformity

Broken Toe Treatment

The treatment for stress fractures and acute toe breaks is generally the same. They can include:

• • Splinting: This keeps the toe in the proper position by taping it to the adjacent toe (also called “buddy taping”).
  • A protective or stiff-soled shoe: This can help keep the toe properly aligned.
  • Re-alignment

In rare cases, the toe may be dislocated and need to be re-aligned before it can be splinted. In these cases, the toe is numbed and the bones are re-set. X-rays are taken to ensure proper realignment of the bone.

Metatarsal Fracture Treatment

Most metatarsal fractures will heal without surgery, using conservative methods. A walking cast/boot or protective footwear may be prescribed to keep the bones in a stable position while they heal. Taping or strapping may also be used for added stability and support.

Metatarsal fractures that are displaced or which have a large gap between the bones may need to be surgically put back in place. Screws, pins, and/or plates hold the fracture together as they heal. Most metatarsal fractures treated with surgery involve a 6 to 8 week recovery period in a walking cast/boot.

Jones Fracture: Fracture of the fifth metatarsal

It is important to note that there is an area of the fifth metatarsal, which is notorious for non-healing. This fracture, also called a "Jones Fracture," may require surgery due to the low blood supply to this particular area of the 5th metatarsal. The bones are fixed with a screw to hold in place while they heal. Typical recovery for a Jones fracture includes a cast and non-weight bearing for eight to ten weeks.

Learn more about Jones Fractures here.

Intraarticular Fracture of the Toe

An intraarticular fracture of the toe is a fracture that crosses into the surface of a joint. They always involve some cartilage damage and are more complicated to treat and heal than simple fractures. Bone fragments inside the damaged joint may hinder healing time and efficacy.

Why UFAI is your Best Choice for Foot and Ankle Care

Using the most advanced techniques, some of which we helped develop, has allowed us to maintain the highest success rates in the nation for ankle injuries. Our goal is to quickly get you back on your feet, utilizing the least invasive treatments possible.

Patients are our number one priority. Beginning with the ease of making your appointment, our family-friendly office staff is with you every step of the way. We have our own x-ray, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and even an MRI and 3D CT and many of our facilities.

We also offer orthotic and brace manufacturing as well as on-site physical therapy services and state-of-the-art operating rooms. This means you will rarely have to go from one specialist to the next, cutting down on your travel needs and wasted time.

While most orthopedic surgeons focus on all the bones and joints in the body, only spending a fraction of their time on the foot and ankle, UFAI's surgeons choose to treat foot and ankle conditions as their lifework.

Podiatric foot and ankle surgeons concentrate exclusively on the foot and ankle from day one of medical school. After medical training, they begin a rigorous three-year surgical residency. What sets podiatric surgical residents apart from general orthopedic residents is they specialize in the foot and ankle while most (though not all) ortho residents do not.

Years of training and decades of experience and research is why the foot and ankle surgeons at UFAI have the highest success rates in the United States, literally helping thousands get back on their feet and back to their life.