HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Broken toe (fractured toe)
Matiwae tāwhatiwhati
Your toes are made up of three bones called phalanges, apart from your big toe, which has two bones.
Your toe bones can break (fracture) if something heavy drops on them or if you stub them against a hard object.
You might not need an X-ray if your toe is broken, unless it's bent at an angle. Your podiatrist or doctor will talk with you about this after examining your foot.
Treating a broken toe
We treat most broken toes by strapping them to the next toe, with some gauze in between. It will usually feel much better after a week or so but can take around four to six weeks for it to heal. While your toe is healing, avoid any activities that might re-injure it.
Raise your foot up on pillows for the first few days to help reduce pain and swelling. During the first two days, it will also help if you hold an ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel against the toe for 15 to 20 minutes every one to two hours. Never hold ice directly against your skin.
Take regular pain relief, such as paracetamol. Wear comfortable shoes that have lots of room for your toe but are firm enough to protect it.
If your toe is broken at an angle, your health professional may need to move the bone back into place. You'll probably need a local anaesthetic injection to numb your toe while they pull the bone into the right position.
You may get a lot of bruising under your toenail. If it's putting pressure on your toenail, your health professional may make a small hole in your nail to remove some of the blood that is causing the bruising and release the pressure.
If the break is very bad or involves the joint between two bones, you may need surgery to move the bones into a better position.
You probably will not need a follow-up appointment for a minor break. But you should see your health professional again if the pain gets worse or if your toe becomes hot, red and swollen or discoloured.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed April 2023.
SourcesReview key: HICCA-28239
