No one is safe from broken fingers. A fracture is generally an unpleasant thing and difficult to treat. Here we will focus on finger fractures. Each finger of the human hand has its own structure, different from the rest. And therefore, finger fractures will vary significantly.
When treating a fracture of any of the fingers, a plaster cast is applied to a significant part of the hand, limiting its mobility. This bandage is worn for four weeks - this time is enough for the bones to grow together and the pain to go away completely.
Now the first priority is to develop the fingers and the limb as a whole, because while wearing a plaster cast their mobility is significantly reduced. After a fracture, the finger bends poorly and goes numb.
You cannot immediately and sharply load your arm - this can lead to re-injury. The load should increase gradually and be extremely gentle.
Here we present and discuss the simplest set of exercises that allow you to restore mobility to your fingers after a fracture:
In addition to special exercises, various types of small work can help a limb after an injury. This could be sorting through cereals, collecting matches, working at a computer keyboard and playing keyboards and stringed musical instruments, various types of handicrafts (knitting, embroidery, appliqué), assembling construction sets, puzzles or mosaics.
A manual expander works very well in this case. However, with such a load, it is important not to overdo it.
No matter how intense the exercises are, rehabilitation after a fracture takes about 30 days after the cast is removed. Do not overexert the limb to avoid complications. In parallel with physical therapy exercises, massage and physiotherapy are prescribed. The rehabilitation program must be agreed upon with the attending physician, since the usefulness and performance of the hand directly depends on its effectiveness.
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Such a toe injury can be either partial or complete. Depending on the etiology, it is classified into pathological and traumatic.
Pathological fractures are injuries due to the destructive effects of a disease. Such ailments include: osteoporosis, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis and others. Such diseases reduce the calcium content of bone tissue, so the bones become brittle.
But, mostly, toes break due to force on the limb.
In addition to dividing such a fracture into traumatic and pathological, there is a classification according to the type and condition of the injury.
Thus, a fracture of the toes can be open - a fracture characterized by a violation of the integral structure of the skin, as well as by the fact that a fragment of the broken bone is visible through the wound. A closed fracture is characterized by the preservation of the integrity of the soft tissues.
The injury can be displaced or non-displaced. Injured bones are displaced due to force on the limb. In this case, there is a danger of injury to nerve endings, blood vessels, and muscles adjacent to the bone.
A finger fracture can also be complete (the bone breaks into two or more parts) or incomplete (a crack appears in the bones). Among other things, the injury can also be splintered - it appears when the bone is crushed and fragments end up in the wound.
Depending on the location, the fracture is divided into injury in the area of the nail phalanx, middle phalanx, and main phalanx. In addition, there is a combined fracture - two or more phalanges of the finger are injured.
When a toe is fractured, the following symptoms appear: acute pain, in particular during movement, swelling of the injured toe, improper functioning, hemorrhage under the nail or skin.
There are also unconditional signs in the form of an unnatural position of the finger, pathological immobility, and crepitus (the appearance of a crunching sound when pressure is applied to the injured limb).
The intensity of symptoms depends on the location of the damage. for example, a fracture of the main phalanx causes pain much more severe than injury to the distal phalanx of the finger, since the main phalanx is connected to the bones of the foot.
A fracture of the second, third, fourth and fifth fingers may go completely unnoticed. However, growing pain forces him to go to the emergency room.
A broken big toe has more pronounced symptoms. This depends on the larger size of the finger and on the fact that the thumb consists of two phalanges, and not three. In addition, the thumb bears a greater load, unlike its “neighbors”.
A fracture cannot always be identified by external phenomena (swelling, cyanosis). In the emergency room, you should definitely take an x-ray in several projections.
Every person nearby at the time of injury can provide first aid, or you can help yourself. The main goal of first aid is to immobilize the foot.
The leg is fixed using any hard object like a splint, which is bandaged to the foot.
If there is an open wound, the first step is to apply a bandage to the wound to stop the bleeding and prevent infection from entering the wound.
When providing first aid, you should strictly observe the rules of sterility (clean hands and sterile bandage). The splint overlay must be handled in the same sterile manner. Immobilization of the fingers will help eliminate pain and prevent injury to the skin from bone fragments.
The treatment method is selected according to the nature of the damage. For example, with an open fracture, in addition to immobilizing the limb, antibiotic therapy is necessary due to the presence of an open wound. Antibacterial therapy includes the use of antibiotics, and in certain situations a tetanus shot may be given.
In the case of a simple closed fracture, doctors apply a standard plaster cast.
Treatment for a broken finger includes painkillers that will help relieve the patient's pain after an injury.
If the nail phalanx is damaged, nail perforation is performed, the blood under the nail is removed, the site of damage and the nearest phalanges of the fingers are fixed with a plaster.
Fractures of the middle and main phalanges without displacement are immobilized with a plaster for a period of 2 weeks. A displaced injury is treated by traction of the broken finger along the axis or by the method of repositioning bone fragments (returning the fragments to their place) and finally applying a plaster “shoe”. The plaster “shoe” is also used for multiple fractures.
Closed displaced fractures or comminuted injuries are treated with closed reduction. The closed type of reposition must be very precise and careful to prevent improper bone fusion and further deformation.
Injuries to the second, third, fourth and fifth phalanges of the fingers are fixed with a plaster splint (a long strip of plaster bandage, including several layers).
If the big toe is injured, a plaster cast is applied, which starts from the injured limb to the knee.
An intra-articular fracture is corrected by surgery, during which the joint is fixed with special knitting needles. The period of wearing a plaster cast is 6-8 weeks.
Upon completion of the course of therapy, the function of broken limbs is completely restored after 8 weeks. To accelerate the processes of bone tissue regeneration and complete recovery, restorative therapy is used.
Rehabilitation includes physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, and therapeutic exercises. During the rehabilitation process, it is recommended to minimize walking, not to mention running. You should wear comfortable and spacious shoes without high heels. During rest, the sore leg should be elevated (for example, it can be placed on a pillow). Severe swelling is eliminated in the first 2-3 days with cold compresses, but under no circumstances should they be abused.
Nutrition should be rational, rich in healthy vitamins and minerals. You should definitely include vegetables and fruits in sufficient quantities in your food. Here we should separately note foods rich in calcium (cheese, eggs, cottage cheese), which is essential for building bone tissue. It is also necessary to exclude or limit strong coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks due to the ability of these products to remove calcium from the human body. Doctors also advise taking multivitamins, C, D, B12.
Fractured toes can easily be caused by a fall, an unsuccessful jump, or a blow from a heavy object. The injury disrupts the functioning of the metatarsophalangeal joints, after which long-term consequences develop - secondary arthrosis and flat feet. The injury is considered fairly common and recovery from a broken toe takes 6-8 weeks.
In addition to traumatic effects, a limb can be broken due to a violation of the strength of bone tissue, this happens with tuberculosis and osteoporosis.
A toe fracture can be recognized by the following signs:
Some people are hesitant to seek medical help, considering a finger injury to be a minor injury. Meanwhile, the lack of treatment measures will lead to complications. This:
Injury to other toes occurs with less pronounced clinical signs. For example, if your little finger is broken, it will not be immediately noticeable. Sometimes a person seeks help the next day, when the pain intensifies.
After a fracture of the big toe, swelling and blueness appear, which involve adjacent toes and spread to the entire foot.
Surgery is necessary in case of displacement of fragments, open trauma, or comminuted fracture. In all other cases, you can get by with immobilization and conservative treatment.
After an injury, a plaster splint is applied not only to the toe itself, but also to the entire foot, including the lower parts of the lower leg. If the nail phalanx is broken, immobilization is limited to applying an adhesive bandage. If there is displacement, reposition of the fragments is carried out surgically using a wire.
Thumb cast option
Since you will have to walk in a plaster cast for 1-1.5 months, muscle atrophy occurs and joint mobility is impaired. You will have to work on the entire foot, not just one toe. Rehabilitation measures are used:
Rehabilitation should begin after the bones have completely fused. The timing of consolidation (complete restoration of bone structures) depends on the severity of the injury and the age of the patient. For example, rehabilitation after a broken finger in older people lasts longer than in adolescents.
Physical therapy is indicated after removal of the plaster cast. At first, a person may feel some discomfort, and his fingers may seem unruly. Gymnastics will help eliminate discomfort. Simple exercises are performed daily for 15-20 minutes.
Recommended set of exercises:
After removing the plaster splint, do not put any weight on the affected leg. The duration of classes is increased gradually. After a fracture of the big toe, exercises are performed for the entire foot; you should also additionally train the knee and ankle joints - bend and straighten the limbs, make rotational movements.
To restore muscles and improve blood circulation, foot massage rollers are used, which are sold in orthopedic salons. The existing seals are rubbed with a finger, without putting excessive pressure on the tissue.
If possible, it is better to hire a professional and begin sessions as soon as possible after removing the splint. Hand movements should be careful; stroking and rubbing techniques with the edge of the palm are used. First, a superficial effect is carried out, then the pressure is increased to get to the ligaments and muscles.
It is allowed to use aromatic oils during a massage. Fir and pine oil will have a positive effect. After the procedure, it is recommended to take warm foot baths.
A moderate concentration of saline solution will help cure a foot injury. To prepare it, dissolve 1 tbsp in a liter of hot water. a spoonful of salt, it is better to take sea salt for these purposes. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and has a beneficial effect on bone tissue. The optimal water temperature is 37-38 degrees. A warm bath will warm the sore spot well and speed up recovery. After it, a positive effect occurs - the muscles relax, the sensitivity of the nerve endings decreases.
Take the salt bath for 10-15 minutes, after which you do not need to wash your feet. Pat them dry with a dry cloth and let your feet rest. To enhance the effect, decoctions of medicinal plants and fir branches are added to the water.
During the procedure, the limb must be freely located in the basin so that the person has the opportunity to move it.
During the rehabilitation period, the following procedures are indicated:
After removing the splint or splint, for the first time you should not put much weight on the sore leg, as this can lead to a new injury to the fragile foot. However, complete inaction is also not recommended. In the early recovery period, you will have to move with the support of a stick.
Make sure you have comfortable shoes without heels in advance. It should be worn not only at home, but also on the street. High heels lead to excessive stress on the toes, which can lead to the formation of large calluses and curvature of the toes. Special orthopedic insoles are useful: they will give the foot a physiological position and improve blood circulation.
Basic safety measures that should be observed when carrying heavy objects, skating and roller skating will help you avoid a fracture.
A toe fracture is not uncommon, especially since the toes bear a lot of body weight pressure. It is possible to get a broken toe even at home, simply by hitting a corner, chair or bed, which has probably happened to you. A fractured toe has clear symptoms, so anyone can identify the injury; you will learn about them in this article. Knowing the signs is good, but treatment is also necessary, before which you need to consult a doctor. One of the most common injuries in this area is a broken toe.
A broken toe is a fairly common injury. Most cases of these injuries are traumatic fractures, which occur as a result of twisting the leg, compression and a strong blow to the toes. There are also pathological fractures of the toes. In this case, the fracture is the result of the negative effect of certain diseases that significantly reduce the level of bone tissue strength: osteomyelitis, osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism and others. A fracture of the toe phalanx can be closed or open, without displacement or with displacement, complete or incomplete, as well as localized on the main, nail or middle phalanx, or simply be combined. Nature has designed the structure of the fingers in such a way that bone fractures in several places at the same time. Certain violations of bone integrity directly depend on the location of the injury. Fractured toe photos scare us, but not all cases pose a danger to the human body.
Symptoms of a fractured toe are absolute and relative. Relative signs allow us to assume only the probability of a fracture, while absolute signs indicate a definite fracture.
Relative symptoms: intense and acute pain, which is especially intensified when trying to move, dysfunction of the limb, swelling of the injured finger, hemorrhage under the skin or nail.
Absolute symptoms: unnatural (unusual) position of the finger, crepitus at the site of injury (when pressing on the fracture area, a characteristic bone crunch will be heard), pathological mobility.
Everything will depend on the location of the injury. For example, when the distal phalanx of the toe breaks, the pain will be less pronounced, just as when the main phalanx connecting to the bones of the foot is damaged. An interesting fact is that when the second, third, fourth, including fifth fingers are fractured, the disruption of their natural function may even go unnoticed. As a result, the victim may not realize that he has suffered a broken finger. The only reason to go to the emergency room will be increasing pain.
A fracture of the big toe is accompanied by other symptoms that are more pronounced. This is explained by the fact that this finger is larger and consists not of three, but of two phalanges. Moreover, it experiences greater load during walking compared to other fingers. That is why a fracture of the thumb is accompanied by sharp and very severe pain, which prevents the patient from stepping on his foot. The swelling spreads to adjacent toes or to the entire foot. The leg takes on a blue tint and looks swollen.
Like any other fracture, this injury always undergoes X-ray examination. An external examination is not 100% effective, so photographs of the leg in various projections are simply indispensable.
This injury has the same signs of a broken finger on both the hand and the foot.
If a patient has suffered a fractured toe, treatment should begin correctly from the first seconds after the injury. In other words, first aid must be provided. First, apply cold to reduce pain and increasing swelling. After this, you need to apply a splint to immobilize the injured limb. This will avoid further complications and alleviate the patient's suffering. An open fracture will not cause severe bleeding due to the absence of large arteries. Nothing else should be done until the ambulance arrives, because going to the hospital on your own is most often impossible.
The treatment regimen will depend on the nature of the injury, even if it is a fracture of the phalanx of the finger . For example, in the case of an open fracture, in addition to repositioning bone fragments and immobilizing the limb, antibiotic therapy must be administered to avoid the development of a secondary infection. Simple fractures of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th toes can be easily treated without the use of a plaster cast. The broken finger is splinted for four to seven weeks. To reduce pain, it is recommended to wear special orthopedic shoes or shoes with hard soles. If the big toe is broken, the patient is given a plaster cast that covers the toes and extends up to the upper third of the shin. The wearing period is around 4 to 6 weeks.
When treating an intra-articular toe fracture, surgical intervention is often used, including open reduction, including intra-articular fixation with special pins, and compression-distraction devices are also installed (in special cases). After these treatment methods, the impaired functionality of the fingers is completely restored after 2 months. In order for the process of healing and bone regeneration to proceed at an accelerated pace, it is necessary to use restorative therapy as a supplement. Physiotherapeutic procedures will be useful to speed up the process of bone tissue restoration. The doctor also recommends using the drug “Collagen Ultra”, which contains essential amino acids for the production of collagen, which is responsible for regenerative processes in the body.
Many people do not believe in treating the toe, but in healing it.