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No toe army

02 Oct 18

How to distinguish a fracture from a bruised toe

Severe pain, difficulty moving, redness. These are all signs of a broken toe. However, similar manifestations can occur in some other cases, for example, when a finger is bruised or sprained. Meanwhile, correctly diagnosing an injury is very important, because the tactics of first aid and further treatment depend on it.

The difference between a bruise and a broken toe

Determining a fracture or bruise of a toe is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. There are several signs to look out for:

  • An injured finger with a fracture is particularly painful. It does not subside over time and intensifies with palpation. A bruised toe is becoming less of a concern every hour.
  • The victim may notice swelling from a broken toe only after a few days. The bruise is characterized by instant swelling, which over the next 8-12 hours significantly decreases or disappears altogether.
  • You can find out whether a fracture or bruise occurs in a particular case by comparing the same toes on both feet. Deformation changes during a fracture visually make the finger smaller.
  • If the integrity of the bone is broken, it is difficult to move the foot. In most cases, a bruised toe does not interfere with normal movement. The victim can call a taxi or ambulance and get to the hospital himself.
  • Main signs of a finger fracture

    All the symptoms that make it possible to determine what exactly happened to the finger: a bruise or a fracture, can be divided into two large groups:

    The first group includes the following symptoms:

  • visual reduction of one finger, which was not observed before;
  • deformation of the phalanx of the leg;
  • upon palpation, a broken fragment or part of the bone is felt;
  • the finger bends in places where it could not bend before.
  • The second group includes signs that do not directly indicate a fracture. This may include:

  • Sharp pain in the damaged area (pain after a fracture or bruise of a finger is tolerable, the person does not lose consciousness, as is the case with fractures of other parts of the leg). This is due to two special processes. In the acute period, already in the first seconds after the injury, a sharp pain concerns the periosteum area. A few hours after the injury, the victim begins to complain of prolonged dull pain. Bursting pain concerns those cases when swelling occurs after a violation of integrity.
  • Increased pain when palpating the damaged area, especially if you tap on the fingertip.
  • Feeling of local temperature rising;
  • Complication of movement in the damaged joint (not always);
  • Severe swelling.
  • In order to determine the type of injury and its complexity, first of all, you need to conduct an external examination and observe the changes for 5 minutes. An injured foot should be examined with extreme caution. You need to run your fingers along the entire bone.

    Displaced finger fracture

    A closed fracture with phalangeal displacement is rare in adults. This phenomenon can only occur as a result of a very severe injury; it is also accompanied by smearing of muscles and ligaments.

    Since bone tissue in children is more elastic, the displacement during a fracture in the little finger has an angular appearance. Moving to the side, ligaments and cartilage also pull bone fragments from them. Thus, timely diagnosis is difficult; the finger is relatively slightly deformed and often grows together in this position.

    How to identify a violation of bone integrity if there is no displacement

    When determining a fracture, doctors can immediately differentiate it in accordance with the classification accepted in medicine:

  • in the direction of the fracture - oblong or transverse;
  • according to the type of fracture line - screw, oblique;
  • according to the fault mechanism - direct and indirect.
  • Of course, it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis only after an x-ray, but in order to suspect an injury, you can palpate the site of injury. First, the movements should be oblong, and then transverse and oblique.

    When trying to listen to your feelings, you need to take into account that there may be several fractures, as well as the number of fragments. You can break a finger without them if you fall straight on your foot. Several fragments may occur as a result of a blunt and smooth object falling on the leg. The bone is broken into small fragments when an uneven object impacts the finger.

    Bruised finger and how it manifests itself

    If a fracture of a finger concerns a violation of the normal structure of the bone itself, then a bruise is a pathology that happens to soft tissues. Such an injury occurs in the event of a strong blow. In this case, the skin is not damaged. A bruised finger can occur simultaneously with a sprain or bone fracture. The main symptoms of damaged soft tissue are:

    • the presence of a hematoma is a blue or even black spot that is visible from under the skin and is an accumulation of a small amount of blood;
    • swelling in the damaged area;
    • slight difficulty in mobility;
    • pain that intensifies during palpation or movement (occurs due to pressure on the problem area of ​​a certain amount of blood).
    • The condition of the victim, meanwhile, does not show significant changes. In most cases, the hematoma resolves on its own. Rarely do blood clots have to be removed solely by surgery.

      According to statistics, a fracture occurs less frequently than a bruise on the little toe. How to distinguish other injuries from a broken toe can be found in medical literature or on the Internet. However, an accurate diagnosis must only be made by a traumatologist. He also deals with the treatment of all pathological changes after injury.

      How to treat a bruised toe and how to distinguish it from a fracture

      A bruised toe is perhaps the most common injury encountered in everyday life. Which of us hasn't hit ourselves at least once? You can get it very simply, for example, by just touching the furniture in your apartment with your foot. Many of us treat this nuisance very dismissively, considering such a bruise to be a trifle, but its consequences may well be serious. Moreover, bruises come in varying degrees of severity; sometimes, after a strong blow, a person is unable to move the injured finger or move around.

      The cause of a toe injury is most often a direct blow to the leg with a blunt object or a fall on the foot.

      In the International Classification of Diseases (T12-T13), such impacts are characterized as lower extremity injuries at an unspecified level.

      Symptoms of injury: how to distinguish from a fracture

      A bruised big toe is usually accompanied by, to put it mildly, unpleasant symptoms:

    • the area of ​​impact swells;
    • the victim experiences sharp, severe pain;
    • After some time, a hematoma appears.
    • At first, the bruise has a pronounced purple color, then the color, as a rule, changes to blue, and already on the 5-6th day it becomes green and yellow.

      Answer the question “How can you tell if you have a bruised or broken toe?” Several recommendations listed in this article will help:

    • First of all, the nature of the pain is different. After an ordinary blow, the pain will be strong and piercing, but within a few hours it will subside completely, but with a fracture it can persist for more than a day.
    • Swelling during a fracture appears immediately after the injury, while with a simple bruise only the next day.
    • You will not be able to bend a broken toe at the joint, just as you will not be able to stand on your foot; attempts will be accompanied by severe pain.
    • The most obvious sign of a fracture, of course, will be considered an unnatural position of the finger; upon palpation, the crunching of bone fragments may occur. And in the event of a blow that leads to a bruise, the finger can only stick out or hang down a little.

      An ordinary person who has received such an injury will not always be able to distinguish a broken finger from a severe 2-3 degree bruise, so in any case, the victim needs to consult a traumatologist.

      Classification of bruises by severity

      In modern traumatology, there are several degrees of severity of bruises:

      • 1st degree - there may be abrasions and scratches in the area of ​​the bruise, the damage to the skin is very minor.
      • Grade 2 - there is minor swelling and hematomas (due to damage to muscle tissue).
      • Grade 3 - nerve connections and tendons are damaged. Finger function may be impaired. At this level, a person should already seek medical help.
      • Stage 4 - the finger turned purple and a hematoma formed. This stage is usually accompanied by dislocations and even fractures. In this condition, a person needs urgent treatment and even hospitalization.
      • Having received a severe bruise to your toe, not knowing what to do or how to quickly cure it, you need to resort to first aid (on your own or with someone else’s participation), and then decide whether to see a doctor.

        You only need to apply cold through a cloth, otherwise you risk getting hypothermia.

        First aid should begin with examining the damaged area of ​​the finger and analyzing the severity of the injury. Then the following treatment measures should be carried out:

      • A disinfectant is applied to damaged areas of the skin and nails to avoid infection.
      • A cold compress should be applied to the bruised leg.
      • Now it’s time to immobilize the affected joint by applying a tight bandage.
      • In this case, ointment for bruises will be extremely relevant. Such a medicine will never be superfluous in your home medicine cabinet. If you want to take painkillers by mouth, remember not to use aspirin, as it may increase bleeding.
      • The affected leg should be slightly elevated to prevent circulatory problems.
      • If the nail plate is damaged, a disinfectant adhesive plaster should be applied to it.
      • Provide complete rest to the damaged area.
      • Now you know the symptoms of a bruised toe and what to do in the event of such an injury at home.

        It is almost impossible to correctly diagnose this type of injury during self-examination, since the symptoms of the injury are very similar to a finger fracture or dislocation. Therefore, the victim needs to seek help from a medical institution as soon as possible, where the correct diagnosis will be made by a qualified doctor based on the medical measures taken.

        How to treat a bruised toe should only be determined by traumatologists or surgeons, having first examined the injury and taken an x-ray. If X-rays are contraindicated, the patient is prescribed a computed tomography scan.

        To avoid suppuration and infection in the damaged area, the patient’s leg is washed and then the bruised area is treated with disinfectants. To effectively carry out treatment and complete recovery of the affected finger, doctors resort to certain methods.

        Drug therapy consists of using local anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments to treat the affected area. This treatment gives good results, the inflammation really goes away quite quickly, along with the pain and swelling.

        The best proven ointments are those made using medicinal venoms (snake and bee).

        The most common remedy is diclofenac, not only in the form of an ointment, but also for oral administration in tablet form.

        Physiotherapeutic procedures

        But physiological procedures include a whole range of therapeutic measures aimed at accelerating the resorption of hematomas and the rapid restoration of damaged tissues. This:

        Even before these technologically modern procedures, they begin to warm up the damaged finger with dry heat. It is recommended to continue this heat therapy for some time after the pain has completely stopped.

        Complete recovery of the limb and restoration of full functioning of the finger occurs already in the 2nd week of treatment. But if the injury was accompanied by nail rejection, then you should wait about a month.

        Surgical intervention

        Surgical procedures are carried out in cases where the resulting massive hematoma needs to be opened, or when the hematoma is under the nail plate. This operation is lightweight, after which the consequences of the bruise disappear very quickly.

        Fortunately, in most cases, people experience a milder version of the finger injury. The advantage is that you don’t have to visit a specialist, but can handle the treatment yourself at home.

        To do this, you can resort to folk remedies:

      • make a compress from plantain;
      • use the well-known pharmaceutical powder “Bodyaga”;
      • apply a potato compress;
      • Don’t forget about the good old method of applying a mesh of iodine.
      • You can quickly apply a copper penny to the site of an instantaneous bruise. This wonderful remedy was used in ancient times by our grandmothers. This method is no worse than other cold compresses.

        As noted above, any warming compresses immediately after a strong blow are prohibited; they can be prepared only a day after the injury.

        What to avoid if you are injured

        After hitting your toe hard, you should avoid some rash actions.

        There are a number of prohibited procedures:

      • Many people mistakenly believe that a compress for a bruise should be warm. By providing heat to the affected area, you will only increase the severity of the swelling.
      • You should not rub the injury site, as this may cause blockage of the veins (thrombophlebitis).
      • It is strictly not recommended to bend or straighten the finger yourself; this issue should be dealt with by a specialist.
      • Take medications other than mild over-the-counter pain relievers.
      • Possible complications

        Complications with such a seemingly trivial injury can still arise. A bruise can damage not only muscles, but also tendons. You may not be able to wear certain shoes and will experience pain when walking. With unskilled and inadequate treatment, severe damage to a person’s finger can be accompanied throughout his life by such serious diseases as panacirium, osteomyelitis, inflammation and suppuration of soft tissues.

        A heel bruise is not uncommon; it often happens after jumping onto a hard surface. In this article, you will learn how to distinguish a bruise from a fracture and what treatment options are available.

        An injury such as a bruised finger is familiar to every person. It is quite simple and may not bring any serious consequences. However, you should not neglect the advice described in the article; this will help to avoid a number of complications that will certainly appear if you let the problem take its course.

        Blue toe - causes and treatment

        Your toe has turned blue for no apparent reason - this unpleasant symptom may indicate vascular pathology, blood stagnation, or even diabetes. However, most often blueness of the feet is associated with wearing uncomfortable shoes. If this is the reason, just change your shoes and sneakers to more comfortable ones, and the stain on your finger will go away pretty quickly.

        Cyanosis on toes

        A healthy person's skin should be light pink. If your toes begin to turn blue and hurt, it means that something is wrong with your body. In medicine, a bluish tint of the skin on the lower extremities is called cyanosis. The epidermis changes color due to the fact that blood does not circulate correctly. Pathologies of the circulatory system lead to blockage of blood vessels, tissues do not receive the required amount of oxygen and micronutrients.

        If cholesterol plaques accumulate in small vessels, their patency is significantly reduced. The blood does not have time to be sufficiently saturated with oxygen and becomes thick. There are two main types of cyanosis:

      • Peripheral. Fingers and toes turn blue. As a rule, this pathology affects precisely those areas of the body that have weak, not pronounced pigmentation. Peripheral cyanosis is manifested by blue spots and swelling. The affected area hurts on palpation. The toe often turns blue as a result of injury or compression of the limb.
      • Central cyanosis. A very serious illness. The patient's entire skin on the body, as well as the mucous membranes, may turn blue. The causes of this pathology are lung diseases of various etiologies.
      • You notice that your toe or hand has turned blue after hypothermia - this is not surprising, because at low temperatures blood circulation is greatly impaired. Such a stain does not need to be rubbed or treated with warming ointments. First of all, consult your doctor. He will conduct an examination and prescribe the most effective treatment.

        So, the main reasons for the change in the pigmentation of the toes from pink to bluish can be considered:

        If your finger turns very blue, you should immediately consult a doctor. To begin effective treatment, the first thing you need to do is find out the reason for the insufficient enrichment of blood with oxygen in the affected area of ​​the skin.

        Wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes causes cyanosis

        Timely, qualified treatment of such a problem as “blue legs” will allow you to restore your health as quickly as possible. The sooner you see a doctor, the better. If cyanosis progresses and spreads throughout the body, the patient urgently needs to undergo oxygen therapy.

        Taking special medications will improve blood microcirculation and vascular patency. In order for the toe to return to its normal pink color, you need to approach the problem in a comprehensive manner. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to completely change your usual lifestyle - give up bad habits, adjust your diet.

        You can protect yourself from blockage of blood vessels with cholesterol, and therefore from cyanosis, if you regularly eat foods from the list below:

      • Bran bread;
      • Buckwheat or oatmeal;
      • Unrefined vegetable oil;
      • Fresh vegetables;
      • Fruits and berries;
      • Sea lean fish;
      • Oven baked potatoes;
      • Low fat cottage cheese.
      • Follow a balanced, low-calorie diet for a while and you will notice that the blueness of your fingers gradually disappears. Proper nutrition can be supplemented with a set of simple exercises. Minor physical activity will significantly improve the condition of blood vessels - making them more elastic and increasing conductivity.

        The following exercises will help speed up blood circulation in the legs:

      • Take a tennis ball or small toy and place it on the floor. Sit on a chair and try to lift the object with your toes. Repeat the exercise 5-10 times.
      • Rotate your foot first in one direction and then in the other.
      • Walk alternately on your heels and on your toes.
      • Train yourself to sit on a chair in a “Turkish” position.

      Take care of your health, eat right and exercise. To avoid cyanosis in your toes, be sure to wear comfortable shoes that are your size. If skin pigmentation changes even slightly, consult a doctor. The thing is that such a symptom can signal the progression of diabetes. If treatment is not started promptly, amputation may be necessary.

      Amputation/removal of fingers and toes: indications, procedure, consequences

      Most of us find it difficult to imagine solving ordinary everyday problems and professional activities without fingers. On the legs they are needed for support and proper walking; on the hands, fine motor skills allow not only the necessary self-care skills, but also provide writing.

      Unfortunately, there are situations in life when the feet and hands undergo irreversible changes, in which all organ-preserving treatment methods cannot ensure tissue preservation, so there is a need for amputation of the finger.

      Due to the traumatic nature and persistent unsatisfactory results, amputations are carried out only in cases where the possibilities of more gentle treatment have been exhausted or it is not feasible due to the extent of the lesion. In other words, such an operation will be performed when saving the finger is simply impossible:

    • Traumatic injuries, finger avulsions, severe crushing of soft tissues;
    • Severe degrees of burns and frostbite;
    • Necrosis of the fingers due to vascular disorders (diabetes mellitus, primarily thrombosis and embolism of the blood vessels of the hands and feet);
    • Acute infectious complications of injuries - sepsis, abscess, anaerobic gangrene;
    • Trophic ulcers, chronic osteomyelitis of finger bones;
    • Malignant tumors;
    • Congenital malformations of the osteoarticular system of the fingers, including amputation of the toes for the purpose of transplanting them to the hand.
    • After the removal of fingers and toes, the patient becomes disabled, his life changes significantly, so the question of the need for such intervention is decided by a council of doctors. Of course, surgeons will try to the last to use all available methods of preserving the fingers and toes.

      If treatment is necessary for health reasons, the patient’s consent is not required. It happens that the patient does not agree to the operation and there are no absolute indications for it, but leaving the sore finger can cause serious complications, including death, so doctors try to explain to the patient and his relatives the need to remove the fingers and obtain consent as quickly as possible.

      Before the operation, the doctor tells the patient in detail about its essence, and also chooses the most optimal option for prosthetics, if necessary, or plastic surgery, so that the cosmetic result is the most beneficial.

      There are essentially no contraindications to amputation of a finger or toe. Of course, it will not be performed if the patient is in agonal condition, but an obstacle to the operation may be the transfer of necrosis to the overlying parts of the limbs or the high risk of complications when only a finger is removed. In such cases, amputation of the fingers is contraindicated, but a large-scale operation is needed - removal of part of the foot, amputation of the leg at the level of large joints, etc.

      Preparing for surgery

      Preparation for surgery depends on the indications for it and the patient’s condition. During planned interventions, the usual list of tests and studies is required (blood, urine, fluorography, cardiogram, tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis, coagulogram), and to clarify the nature of the lesion and the expected level of amputation, radiography of the hands and feet, ultrasound examination, and determination of the sufficiency of work are performed vascular system.

      If there is a need for urgent surgery, and the severity of the condition is determined by the presence of inflammation, infectious complications and necrosis, then during preparation, antibacterial agents and infusion therapy will be prescribed to reduce the symptoms of intoxication.

      In all cases when surgery on the hands and feet is planned, blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin) are discontinued, and the attending physician must be informed about taking drugs from other groups.

      Anesthesia for amputation of fingers is often local, which is safer, especially in the case of a serious patient’s condition, but is quite effective, because no pain will be felt.

      In the process of preparing for amputation or disarticulation of fingers, the patient is warned about its result; it may be necessary to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist, who can help reduce preoperative anxiety and prevent severe depression after treatment.

      Amputation of fingers

      The main indication for amputation of the fingers is considered to be trauma with complete or partial separation. When avulsion occurs, the surgeon is faced with the task of closing the skin defect and preventing scar formation. In the case of severe crushing of soft tissues with their infection, there may be no opportunity to restore adequate blood flow, and then amputation is the only treatment option. It is also carried out in case of necrosis of soft tissues and elements of the finger joints.

      If during the injury several fractures occur, bone fragments are displaced, and the result of organ-preserving treatment is a motionless, crooked finger, then surgery is also necessary. In such cases, the absence of a finger causes much less discomfort when using the brush than its presence. This indication does not apply to the thumb.

      Another reason for amputation of fingers can be damage to tendons and joints, in which preservation of the finger is fraught with its complete immobility, disrupting the functioning of the remaining fingers and the hand as a whole.

      Distribution of finger and hand amputations by prevalence

      The choice of amputation height depends on the level of damage. Always take into account the fact that a stationary or deformed stump or a dense scar interfere with hand work much more than the absence of an entire finger or a separate phalanx. When amputating the phalanges of long fingers, an operation that is too gentle is often performed.

      When forming a stump, it is important to ensure its mobility and painlessness; the skin at the end of the stump should be mobile and not cause pain, and the stump itself should not be thickened in a flask shape. If it is technically not possible to recreate such a stump, then the level of amputation may be higher than the edge of the finger injury.

      When performing operations on the fingers, the location of the lesion, the profession of the patient, and his age are important, so there are a number of nuances that surgeons know and must take into account:

    • When amputating a thumb, they try to preserve as long a stump as possible; even short stumps are preserved on the ring and middle fingers to stabilize the entire hand during movements;
    • The inability to leave the optimal length of the finger stump requires its complete removal;
    • It is important to maintain the integrity of the heads of the metacarpal bones and the skin of the spaces between the fingers;
    • They try to keep the little finger and thumb as intact as possible, otherwise the support function of the hand may be impaired;
    • The need to amputate several fingers at once requires plastic surgery;
    • If the wound is heavily contaminated, there is a risk of infectious lesions and gangrene, plastic and gentle operations can be dangerous, so complete amputation is performed;
    • The patient's profession affects the level of amputation (for people with mental work and those who perform delicate work with their hands, it is important to perform plastic surgery and maximum preservation of the length of the fingers; for those who are engaged in physical labor, amputation to the maximum extent can be carried out for speedy rehabilitation);
    • The cosmetic result is important for all patients, and in some categories of patients (women, people in public professions) it becomes crucial when planning the type of intervention.
    • Disarticulation is the removal of fragments or the entire finger at the joint level. For pain relief, an anesthetic is injected into the soft tissues of the corresponding joint or into the area of ​​the base of the finger, then the healthy fingers are bent and protected, and the person being operated on bends as much as possible, and a skin incision is made on the back side above the joint. When removing the nail phalanx, the incision is made 2 mm towards the end of the finger, the middle - 4 mm and the entire finger - 8 mm.

      After dissection of the soft tissues, the ligaments of the lateral surfaces are intersected, the scalpel enters the joint, the phalanx, which is to be removed, is brought out into the incision, and the remaining tissues are intersected with a scalpel. The wound after amputation is covered with skin flaps cut from the palmar surface, and the sutures are necessarily placed on the non-working side - the back.

      Maximum tissue savings, the formation of a flap from the skin of the palmar surface and the location of the suture on the outside are the basic principles of all methods of amputation of the phalanges of the fingers.

      In case of injury, either complete separation of the finger or partial separation can occur when it remains connected to the hand with a soft tissue flap. Sometimes patients bring severed fingers with them in the hope that they will heal. In such situations, the surgeon proceeds from the characteristics of the wound, the degree of its contamination and infection, and the viability of the torn fragments.

      In case of traumatic amputation, suturing of the lost finger can be done, but only by a specialist who has subtle techniques for connecting blood vessels and nerves. Success is more likely when the integrity of the finger is restored, maintaining at least some connection with the hand, and in case of complete separation, reimplantation is carried out only when there is no crushing of the tissue and proper healing is possible.

      Reconstructive operations on the fingers are extremely complex, require the use of microsurgical techniques and appropriate equipment, and take up to 4-6 hours. The surgeon’s work is extremely painstaking and careful, but success is still not absolute. In some cases, skin grafting and repeated reconstructive interventions are required.

      Rehabilitation after removal of fingers or their phalanges includes not only care of the skin wound, but also the early restoration of self-care skills with the help of hands and manipulations associated with the profession. In the postoperative period, physiotherapeutic procedures and exercises are prescribed to ensure that the patient learns to use the stump or reimplanted finger.

      To facilitate the recovery process, analgesics and bed rest are indicated, the hand is predominantly in an elevated position. In case of severe postoperative stress or a tendency to depression, tranquilizers and sleeping pills are prescribed, and it is advisable to work with a psychologist or psychotherapist.

      Toe amputation

      Unlike the fingers, which are most often subject to traumatic injuries that lead to a surgeon, on the foot and its fingers the need for surgery arises for a number of diseases - diabetes mellitus, endarteritis, atherosclerosis with gangrene of the distal parts of the legs.

      Toe amputation due to diabetes mellitus is performed quite often in general surgery departments. Violation of trophism leads to severe ischemia, trophic ulcers and, ultimately, to gangrene (necrosis). It is impossible to save the finger, and surgeons are deciding whether to amputate it.

      It is worth noting that with diabetes it is not always possible to limit yourself to the removal of one finger, because nutrition is impaired, and, therefore, one can only hope for adequate regeneration in the scar area. Due to significant disorders of the blood supply to soft tissues in various angiopathies, surgeons often resort to more traumatic operations - disarticulation of all fingers, removal of part of the foot, the entire foot with a section of the lower leg, etc.

      When amputating toes, the basic principles of such interventions must be observed:

    • Maximum possible preservation of leather on the sole side;
    • Preservation of the work of flexors, extensors and other structures involved in multidirectional movements of the feet, in order to ensure further uniform load on the stump;
    • Ensuring mobility of the joint apparatus of the feet.
    • For small lesions (frostbite of the distal phalanges, for example), it is possible to amputate the distal and middle phalanx without significantly impairing the functionality of the foot, with the exception of the big toe, which provides a supporting function, so if necessary, its removal is done as sparingly as possible.

      When amputating the second finger, at least some part of it must be left, if this is possible due to the circumstances of the injury or disease, since complete amputation will subsequently result in deformation of the thumb.

      Amputations on the feet are usually performed along the line of the joints (disarticulation). In other cases, there is a need to cut the bone, which is fraught with osteomyelitis (inflammation). It is also important to preserve the periosteum and attach the extensor and flexor tendons to it.

      In all cases of injuries, avulsions, crushing, frostbite of the toes and other lesions, the surgeon proceeds from the possibility of maximally preserving the function of support and walking. In some cases, the doctor takes a certain risk and does not completely excise non-viable tissue, but this approach allows you to maintain the maximum length of the fingers and avoid resection of the heads of the metatarsal bones, without which normal walking is impossible.

      Toe disarticulation technique:

    • The skin incision begins along the fold between the toes and the metatarsus on the plantar side of the foot in such a way that the remaining skin flap is as long as possible, the longest in the area of ​​the future stump of the first toe, since the largest metatarsal bone is located there;
    • After the skin incision, the fingers are bent as much as possible, the surgeon opens the joint cavities, cuts the tendons, nerves and ties the blood vessels of the fingers;
    • The resulting defect is covered with skin flaps, placing the sutures on the back side.
    • If the cause of amputation of the fingers was an injury with contamination of the wound surface, a purulent process during gangrene, then the wound is not tightly sutured, leaving drainage in it to prevent further purulent-inflammatory process. In other cases, a blind suture may be applied.

      Healing after amputation of toes requires the administration of painkillers, timely treatment of sutures and changing bandages. In case of a purulent process, antibiotics are required; infusion therapy is carried out according to indications. The sutures are removed after 7-10 days. If healing is favorable after the initial operation, the patient may be offered reconstruction and plastic surgery, as well as prosthetics to facilitate work, walking, and support on the foot.

      Recovering from toe removal requires physical therapy exercises to develop muscles as well as new skills for using the rest of the foot.

      Traumatic amputation

      Traumatic amputation is the partial or complete separation of fingers or sections of them as a result of injury. Surgical treatment for such injuries has some features:

    • The operation is performed only when the patient’s condition is stable (after recovery from shock, normalization of the heart and lungs);
    • If it is impossible to sew back the torn part, the finger is completely removed;
    • In case of severe contamination and risk of infection, primary wound treatment is required, when non-viable tissue is removed, the vessels are ligated, and sutures are applied later or repeated amputation is performed.
    • If amputated fingers are delivered with the patient, the surgeon takes into account their shelf life and tissue viability. At a temperature of +4 degrees, fingers can be stored for up to 16 hours, if it is higher - no more than 8 hours. A storage temperature of less than 4 degrees is dangerous due to frostbite of the tissue, and then sewing the finger in place will become impossible.

      No matter how carefully the operation to amputate fingers and toes is performed, it is impossible to completely eliminate the consequences. The most common of them are purulent complications in the case of traumatic amputations, progression of the necrotic process in vascular diseases, diabetes, formation of a dense scar, deformation and immobility of the fingers, which is especially noticeable on the hands.

      To prevent complications, it is important to carefully adhere to the amputation technique and the correct choice of its level; in the postoperative period, recovery with the use of physiotherapeutic methods and physical therapy is mandatory.

      Remedies for bunions

      The process of treating hallux valgus is often complicated by the lack of necessary devices. People simply don’t know where to buy a remedy for bunions, although they have heard a lot about it. This section contains braces, insoles, orthopedic boots, a corrector and splints, which are designed to support the deformed foot in the correct position and stop the growth of the bunion near the big toe. And the attached links allow you not only to familiarize yourself with, but also to buy all the necessary products for treating bunions at home.

      What are the differences between valgus devices?

      ValgoSocks bunion socks

      There are many products that are an excellent means of preventing certain diseases or health problems in general. One of these miracle products: bunion socks.

      Orthopedic set Correct Pro (Correct Pro)

      Many people have heard about such an orthopedic disease as hallux valgus. This disease mainly affects women, and it is not only of an aesthetic nature - in its final stages.

      Valgus splint ValuFix (Valyufiks)

      If your posture is poor, a corrective corset is worn, braces are installed to correct crooked teeth, and help restore the joint of the big toe, reducing pain when walking and smoothing it out.

      Corrector Valgus Pro (Valgus Pro) thumb fixator

      According to statistics, one or another stage of hallux valgus is observed in every fifth woman. This unpleasant orthopedic disease appears mainly as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes.

      Corrector Valgus Plus (Valgus Plus)

      Even at a relatively young age, a bunion pathology can develop on the foot: the joint near the big toe becomes deformed and begins to bulge, making it difficult to wear regular shoes and causing pain.

      Cream Bump Stop - shark oil for bumps on the legs

      Often with longitudinal flatfoot, the joints of the big toes become deformed and swell. This is an unpleasant phenomenon that causes a person a lot of trouble, ranging from the accompanying swelling.

      Valgusstop cream for bones

      Deformation of the joint near the big toe causes not only pain when walking, but also aesthetic discomfort. ValgusStop cream was created specifically for the correction of painful bunions and...

      Hyperosteogeny patch for bunions

      Many people are familiar with such an unpleasant phenomenon as a growing bone on the foot. Those who have already encountered this problem know that in addition to pain and discomfort, hallux valgus deformity occurs.

      Therapeutic tactics for a bruised toe

      A stubbed toe is a fairly serious injury. First aid is often provided by bystanders to the injury or by the patient himself. Timely treatment measures carried out to the fullest extent are the key to a quick recovery and absence of complications for the victim.

      A bruised toe is one of the most common household injuries. The most common injury is to the thumb. The patient population is diverse, but among older people it is observed somewhat less frequently. This may be due to their lower activity. An interesting fact is that at the moment of hitting an obstacle, the speed of the leg reaches 50 km/h. The consequences of an injury can be very different - from the disappearance of symptoms without a trace in a few days, to a long-term loss of ability to work with the need for subsequent rehabilitation.

      Therefore, in order to speed up the recovery process as much as possible, everyone should know what to do and what to do in such a situation.

      Mechanism of development of bruises

      All bruises are caused by mechanical factors affecting the limb. They can be divided into several groups.

      1. Household factors. Most often this is a direct blow with a finger on an obstacle - a table leg, a door, a high threshold. It could also be a heavy object falling on your finger.
      2. Sports injuries. This is especially true for athletes and wrestlers.
      3. Criminal injuries sustained during crimes.

      Depending on how serious the damage is, there are four degrees of severity of the injury.

    • Minor damage to the skin in the form of scratches or abrasions. Symptoms disappear on their own within a few days.
    • Pain syndrome is pronounced, swelling and hematoma develop.
    • The functioning of the finger is impaired. Patients complain of acute pain and severe swelling of the surrounding soft tissues. Very often such bruises are accompanied by dislocations.
    • Accompanied by a violation of the integrity of bone tissue - cracks or fractures. Noticeable bruising and swelling.
    • Treatment and further prognosis for the victim depend on the severity of the injury.

      Symptoms and diagnosis

      The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the injury and the individual susceptibility of the patient. But regardless of these indicators, each victim will experience the following symptoms:

      Immediately after the blow, the pain is very strong and sharp. The patient is restless, may rush from side to side, jump on one leg, and scream. After some time it subsides and the patient calms down a little

      Within a few hours, and in severe cases, soft tissue swelling develops much faster. Due to the pressing of damaged structures and nerve endings, the pain syndrome intensifies. Finger mobility may be limited to varying degrees, from minor difficulty to complete loss of function.

      The blood released from the crushed vessels permeates the surrounding tissues. A bruise forms. With mild bruises, it can be very small in size, and if the blow falls on the nail phalanx, then it is localized only under the nail. In case of serious damage, blood can leak into adjacent, undamaged tissues.

      Despite their apparent insignificance, the toes play a large role in maintaining balance when walking. If they are damaged, the patient's posture changes and he or she limps. With the third and fourth degree of bruising of the thumb, walking becomes impossible. If the victim hits his fingernail, it may crack or come off.

      Since the patient’s symptoms are quite severe, treatment should be started immediately. This will help alleviate the patient’s condition and get him back on his feet sooner.

      A bruised toe requires immediate treatment. Only timely treatment will help avoid the development of various complications. So what should you do if you witness the trauma and suffering of a patient?

      Premedical treatment is limited to cooling and immobilizing the limb. In the first minutes, or even seconds after injury, you need to apply cold to the damaged area. This could be regular ice or an ice pack, snow, frozen food. They must first be wrapped in cloth.

      If you don't have anything on hand that could replace ice, you can apply a compress soaked in cold water or place the damaged area under running cold water.

      Since it takes about ten minutes for blood clots to form and stop bleeding, the cold should be kept for up to fifteen minutes. Side effects may occur if contact with ice lasts longer than thirty minutes.

      If you keep the limb in an elevated position, the flow of blood to the injured area will be minimal. Therefore, this will prevent the tissue from becoming too swollen. Constant movements of the injured finger will prevent normal blood clotting, so it is advisable to apply a bandage to the finger. This must be done carefully, especially if a fracture is suspected, so as not to cause even more harm.

      Under no circumstances should you try to eliminate the existing deformation yourself. And in general, you don’t need to do anything that you’re not sure is beneficial. This can only do harm. To reduce pain, you can give the patient painkillers - ibuprofen, rheumoxicam, aspirin, paracetamol or any other.

      Treatment for a bruised toe is carried out on an outpatient basis. The scope of treatment measures depends on the severity of the damage. The speed of recovery depends on it. In the first degree, the symptoms go away on their own within a few days. In all other cases, treatment comes down to the following:

    • anesthesia;
    • reduction of swelling;
    • elimination of damage to bone tissue;
    • restoration of normal limb function.
    • To relieve pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used - diclofenac, rheumoxicam, ibuprofen and others. These can be either tablet preparations or local ones, in the form of ointments, creams and gels. They will not only relieve pain, but also help relieve tissue swelling.

      On the second or third day after the injury, thermal compresses are indicated - cotton bandages, a bag of heated sand. To make a bruise resolve faster, it is useful to apply a compress with magnesium sulfate. If the hematoma under the nail occupies more than half of its area, its puncture followed by evacuation of the contents is indicated

      The fourth degree of damage requires the intervention of a traumatologist. Only he can suspect a dislocation, crack or fracture and prescribe adequate treatment.

      When a finger is dislocated, its movements are possible, but limited and springy. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the dislocation needs to be reduced. Only a specialist can do this. If you tap on the top of your finger, if there is a crack, the pain will intensify.

      When a fracture occurs, attention is drawn to a large bruise, swelling, and absolute impossibility of movement. To determine the type of fracture and the presence of displacement, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the limb.

      After reduction of the dislocation or displacement, a plaster cast or splint is applied. The timing of immobilization is determined individually. General treatment involves taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. During the recovery period, physical therapy and physiotherapy are carried out.

      In the vast majority of cases, a bruised toe has a favorable prognosis. In very rare cases, arthrosis, hematoma suppuration, and improper bone fusion may develop. Timely and adequate treatment tactics will help avoid such troubles.

      What diseases are associated with numbness in the toes?

      The toes go numb when a nerve is pinched or blood flow in the tissue is impaired due to an uncomfortable posture, tight shoes or injury. Loss of sensation in the lower extremities is a symptom of radiculitis, lumbar osteochondrosis, alcohol intoxication or diabetes. When the discomfort quickly passes and does not return, there is nothing to worry about. If numbness bothers you regularly and other unpleasant signs are added, go to the doctor.

      In this article we will look in detail at why your toes go numb and how you can get rid of this unpleasant sensation. The information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute instructions for action. In some cases, only a doctor will help - do not neglect a visit to a specialist.

      We are looking for the reason in lifestyle, shoes and habits

      Due to an uncomfortable position (legs under you, legs crossed), the nerve is pinched, blood flow to the fingers is disrupted - sensitivity is lost, tingling and goosebumps appear. Sometimes it hurts to step on your foot. But the discomfort goes away after changing the position, rotating the foot, and moving the fingers.

      In tight, narrow shoes, the foot is constantly compressed. And with prolonged walking, a slight swelling appears, which aggravates the situation. Blood circulation is disrupted - the legs ache, ache, swell and go numb.

      Calluses are dense, dry patches of dead skin cells. Sensitivity to touch is weak, but when walking it burns and hurts. Most often, calluses cause the big toe to go numb.

      Due to any injury (be it a fracture or bruise), the nerve endings are damaged. While it is healing, it hurts, burns, and limits movement. And subsequently, numbness may appear - the toe periodically goes numb.

      Toxic substances (poisons) regularly entering the body slowly but surely destroy blood vessels. Nicotine narrows the lumen, and alcohol thins the walls. For this reason, fingers, entire limbs, and other parts of the body become numb.

      Great physical activity on the legs leads to fatigue, paresthesia, and pain.

      The cause of numbness in the toes may be hidden in a serious pathology. The human body is a single whole: a pinched nerve or damage to a vessel in one place is reflected in discomfort in completely different areas.

      If the foot of the left leg becomes numb, it does not mean that damage should be looked for in this limb.

      What disease is associated with numbness in the feet and fingers?

      Disease/pathological condition

      Why does paresthesia occur?

      Nature of discomfort/related clinic

      Vitamin B12 deficiency

      Cyanocobalamin is involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and the formation of nerve fiber sheaths. Therefore, with a deficiency, various neurological disorders appear.

      Paresthesia of the limbs with goosebumps and tingling. Plus weakness, tinnitus, dizziness. Irritability appears.

      The sciatic nerve becomes injured and inflamed - its branches are damaged.

      I can’t feel my toes on my left and/or right foot. It hurts, “goosebumps”, the muscles become flabby.

      The intervertebral disc wears out - the vertebrae overlap each other - pinching blood vessels and nerve fibers. As a result, blood flow and conduction of nerve impulses are disrupted.

      Periodically, my big toes go numb. Then severe pain appears.

      The nervous tissue enlarges and swells – a tumor forms. Most often, the pathological process develops in the toes.

      A benign formation quickly spreads to other areas - it hurts a person to step.

      The lumen of the arteries of the lower extremities narrows - blood flow is disrupted.

      The toes of the left and right feet go numb, the limbs are cold. Sensitivity does not return for a long time. When the vessel completely closes, gangrene develops.

      Neuropathy (peripheral, diabetic)

      High blood sugar levels in diabetes mean a high risk of damage to blood vessels and nerves in the feet. A common cause of peripheral neuropathy is intoxication.

      Itching, burning, tingling in the extremities. The fingers seem to be pulled together. Spontaneous pain appears, very strong. Wounds do not heal well.

      Atherosclerosis of the lower extremities

      Cholesterol plaques (thickenings inside the vessels) interfere with blood circulation - the arteries and arterioles of the extremities are affected.

      Sensitivity decreases. Fingers are always cold and pale.

      A risk factor for paresthesia of the limbs is pregnancy . This is not a pathological condition, so we will not include it in the general table.

      The enlarging uterus and growing fetus compress the nerve roots - conduction between the fibers is disrupted. At the same time, blood circulation in the extremities deteriorates - during pregnancy, the fingers become numb and cold.

      Constantly recurring discomfort is a reason to consult a doctor for qualified examination and treatment. But when your leg is twisted and constrained here and now, something urgently needs to be done.

      What to do if your fingers go numb:

      Take a comfortable position, move your foot up and down, left and right. Make circular movements in one direction, then in the other. The simplest exercise will help speed up the blood.

      Soak your feet in a warm bath with pine extract (if you are not allergic). Relax, sit for 5-10 minutes.

      Dry each foot with a soft towel and massage thoroughly. Rub each finger alternately, using circular movements from base to tip. Work your entire foot, bottom and top, with force.

      If you experience regular discomfort, perform these manipulations every evening.

      General recommendations for healthy feet:

    • Choose comfortable shoes made from natural materials with low heels. The best time for shopping is evening.
    • Maintain a balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in your diet.
    • Take multivitamin complexes.
    • Give up bad habits (poisons cause vasospasm).
    • Strengthen the muscles in your legs and feet through physical activity.
    • In summer, walk barefoot on grass and sand more often. And in winter - on a massage mat.
    • Place a bowl of peas or beans on the floor. Nearby is an empty bowl. Using your fingers, pick up the beans from one bowl and transfer them to another. First we work on the toes on the left foot, then on the right. Do this simple exercise regularly to keep your blood flowing.

      Proven recipes will help eliminate constant discomfort. Numbness of the toes occurs - treatment with folk remedies to help:

    • Take a hot bath, rub your feet and apply camphor ointment to your numb toes. Put on your socks and go to bed.
    • Brew linden blossom firmly. Add the decoction to a hot foot bath.
    • Treat your feet with liquid honey. Cover with film. On top are socks. Leave for a couple of hours.
    • To strengthen blood vessels, you need to do contrasting foot baths.
    • Remember: prevention is always better than cure.

      If discomfort is quickly relieved with the help of simple exercises and self-massage techniques, then the cause of numbness is external (uncomfortable posture, incorrect shoes, physical fatigue). If paresthesia returns again and again, accompanied by pain, burning, tingling, run to the doctor.

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