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Fracture or bruise of a toe

12 Aug 18

What to do if you stub your toe

What does an ordinary person do when he hastily hits the corner of a wall with his toe - little toe or big? Screams, swears, shakes his injured leg, grabs the bruised place. When the pain subsides a little, he puts on his shoes, despite the discomfort, and goes to work.

Surely everyone is familiar with a similar situation, as well as the further actions of a person who has suffered a bruised toe. But are we doing the right thing by not taking such shell shocks very seriously, do we correctly understand the consequences of such a blow?

Let's try to figure out what a bruise is, what complications it can cause, how to properly treat it, and how to treat it.

Each finger is a joint of tubular bones - phalanges, connected by joints. Eight out of ten fingers have three phalanges:

Only two large ones - two phalanges.

The metatarsals hold all the major phalanges on the central part of the foot. The motor activity of the fingers is carried out due to the contraction of tendon fibers, which are driven by the muscles of the ankle. The feet perform the most important functions for a person in his daily life. Due to their structure, they provide a strong support for a person when he stands. It is the toes that help the foot maintain the necessary balance during movement.

If a person needs to lean forward, the toes come to the rescue. They rest firmly on the floor and prevent the body from falling forward.

Despite all its outstanding qualities, the foot is still one of the most vulnerable parts of the human skeleton, since it not only bears its weight and serves as a support for it, but also comes into contact with many objects during motor functions:

Due to this amount of activity, injuries often occur, with the toes being the most affected. They require mandatory, immediate treatment, without which the bruised finger may not fully adapt.

What should you do first? It is important to find out if your finger is broken. To do this, you need to understand the symptoms of fractures and simple bruises - how to distinguish them from each other.

The severity of the injury affects its course and further recovery.

  • The first degree is characterized by slight damage to the skin with the formation of abrasions.
  • The second involves the formation of swelling on the injured finger with acute pain that does not subside for a long time.
  • The third degree is characterized by damage not only to the skin, but also to tissues.
  • The fourth is a dangerous injury that often ends in fractures.
  • The general symptoms of a bruised toe and a fracture are very different:

  • by the nature of the pain syndrome;
  • time of occurrence of edema;
  • by external signs.
  • For example, a severe bruise is caused by fading pain that disappears after a short period of time. Moreover, the most long-term pain comes from a bruise of the joint of the big toe and may not go away within a day.

    If a fracture occurs, the pain not only does not subside, but intensifies so that the injured finger is not even possible to bend.

    Swelling and subcutaneous hemorrhages are inherent in both a fracture and a bruise, the only difference is that with a fracture they occur instantly, and a bruise provokes swelling gradually.

    A bruised big toe can result in discoloration and peeling of the nail.

    The most striking examples of distinctive symptoms are the unnatural position of the broken finger, the appearance of blood under the nail and the crunching of the bones upon palpation.

    Signs indicating immediate hospitalization for a victim with a severely bruised toe:

  • immediate onset of edema;
  • increasing pain;
  • darkening of the nail plate;
  • crepitation (crunching);
  • the appearance of blood under the nail.
  • If at least one sign indicating a fracture is present, treatment should not be limited to home remedies - the victim is immediately taken to a medical facility to refute or confirm suspicions using an x-ray.

    The question that arises is: “What should you do first when you stub your toe?” directly depends on the degree of its damage. In case of a minor injury, the victim does not need to be seen by a specialist, but can be treated with home remedies.

    If a toe is bruised, what should the person next to the victim do at home?

    • Carefully examine the site of injury, check the flexion-extension functions of the toes. If they are broken, then a fracture has occurred and this is no longer a minor injury. The victim needs to go to the hospital.
    • Apply a cold compress to the injured area.
    • Disinfect the injury site in case of abrasions.
    • Apply a tight bandage.
    • Elevate your foot to prevent circulatory problems.
    • Give the victim a pain reliever.
    • Provide complete rest to the injured leg.
    • In order for first aid for a bruised toe to be provided correctly, you need to find means to cool the damaged area. This can be ice from the freezer, or a towel soaked in cold water.

      Why is this so important? The fact is that cold prevents the spread of edema, which puts pressure on the nerve bundles of the phalanx. There is a direct connection effect here - the more the nerve endings are compressed, the stronger the pain will be and the longer it will not go away. Moreover, an important condition for cold treatment is to apply it within the first 15 minutes after injury.

      To provide first aid, there is no difference between a bruise and a fracture - in both cases, you need to carry out pre-medical treatment of a bruised toe at home, using the drugs that are at hand.

      How to treat a bruised toe and using which of the three methods (medication, physiotherapy, surgery), only a doctor can say for sure after a thorough examination and examination of the victim.

      If a toe is slightly bruised, treatment and pain relief will most likely be carried out by rubbing in anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments, as well as taking vitamin preparations.

      If the hematoma is too large, it is opened in a hospital setting to avoid suppuration. This surgical method promotes faster recovery of the injury.

      A fracture of the little finger or a bruised big toe can be cured by resorting to physiotherapeutic procedures, which, in combination with drug treatment, give good results.

      Many injuries require the application of plaster braces, which are good aids in their recovery.

      What is forbidden to do

      First aid excludes the following actions:

    • Warm the injured area or apply heat, which may cause swelling to spread.
    • Massage the sore spot, as this may result in thrombosis of the veins.
    • Try to straighten and forcefully bend your fingers on your own.
    • Take medications without a doctor's prescription, with the exception of painkillers.
    • Preventive measures to prevent bruises of the lower extremities include the following recommendations.

    • it is necessary to consume calcium and vitamin complexes to strengthen the bone structure;
    • you need to play sports to generally strengthen the body;
    • It is necessary to observe safety precautions in the home and at work.
    • What other advice can you give to all of us? Move carefully, take your time and don’t hit yourself. But since the trouble has already happened, you need to be fully armed and know how to act correctly.

      How to distinguish a bruised toe from a fracture?

      Hello friends! I probably won’t be wrong if I say that each of us has experienced a bruised toe. And, if you remember yourself, then the first thing you begin to think about is: is it broken?

      At the same time, all you observe and feel is pain, blueness and a growing tumor.

      But what to do in this case and where to go?

      How to distinguish a minor injury from a fracture?

      What to apply in this case or how to start treating it? Actually, we will try to find answers to all these questions.

      If we start everything in order, then I want to give you a preliminary list of actions that you can practice:

      1. Immediately after the impact, you should apply something as cold as possible. Ice is ideal, but any item from the freezer will also work. It is in the first hours that it is important for us to prevent severe swelling,
      2. ice (or something very cold) must be applied on the very first day every 2 hours and massaged little by little with a cold object for 10 - 15 minutes,
      3. if the refrigerator is far away or there is nothing in the freezer, cold water will help you. Also use cold water for a bruised toe, as described in the previous paragraph,
      4. It is forbidden to bandage the broken area, because if there is a crack there (which you don’t know for sure), you will cause even more harm,
      5. further, on the same day you can apply a cold compress to the inflamed area,
      6. To improve blood circulation in the area, it is recommended to gently rub in ointments that contain a substance such as heparin. The bottom line is that it helps improve blood circulation and prevents vascular thrombosis,
      7. Only on day 2 or even 3 can you start “warm procedures”. This includes baths with antitumor herbs, “hot compresses,” and various warm-ups.
      8. But it is also important to remember that even if you have an ordinary bruised toe , this is not a question of 7-10 days. So, even if some therapeutic measures are carried out, pain can be felt after 3–4 weeks. In general, this problem can last up to 1.5 months.

        Although, if you do exactly what was described above, everything will go much faster. But still remember that if the problem has been bothering you for a month, at least go and get an x-ray. Actually, more on this later.

        Severe bruised toe

        If you feel that the damage is severe, it is most likely a fracture. Well, at least a crack. How can this be determined?

        I will say this, if you notice that the bruise that has formed does not go away for a week, but the pain remains as before, these are clear symptoms of something more serious.

        It is important to realize and understand that even if there is a fracture or crack, the pain can be quite bearable. A fracture does not necessarily result in unbearable pain. Remember this.

        Therefore, if you think you have a severe bruise to your toe, it’s better to play it safe and go for an x-ray. At least, it’s much easier than later having to undergo a complicated operation with more severe consequences and a longer recovery period.

        Bruised big toe

        In addition to the previous information, I will also say that if you start rubbing, you may even do harm, not improve the situation. The thing is that rubbing a bruised toe can provoke a blood clot (blood clots) in the vessels and capillaries.

        Well, also, take note that in the first 1-2 weeks, wear something looser than usual.

        And, I would like to say that a bruised big toe is not only a bruise and pain for 3 to 4 weeks. So, you can damage, for example, the joint itself, or ligaments, or muscles.

        In this situation, the pain may continue for months. Therefore, if you have been having concerns for more than a month, contact a traumatologist who will examine possible damage to the tendons or something else. And, depending on the damage, he will select treatment tactics.

        Concluding this material about a bruised toe, I would like to invite you to read an article on the topic of injuries on the hand.

        Finger fracture. Signs, first aid, development

        A broken finger is a fairly common injury for people and there is no prevention from it, other than walking in iron gloves. The signs of a broken finger are quite expressive, regardless of whether it is a broken toe or hand. Naturally, many people wonder what to do if a finger is broken, how to determine it, and what first aid should be for a broken finger. There are several types of fractures - open, closed, marginal, displaced. You will learn about all this in the article.

        Probably everyone is familiar with the situation when the little toe or finger on the hand is injured when closing the door. This is not at all surprising, because people actively use the phalanges of their fingers in their everyday life. Moreover, these parts of the body are located in front and are not protected by any additional organs. Fractures of finger bones can occur anywhere, even by accidentally hitting your hand on a door handle. Naturally, athletes who play various sports most often suffer from this. As a rule, a fracture occurs as a result of a strong blow to the fingers, or a direct fall on them. Yes, there is a certain prevention aimed at strengthening bone tissue. But, if this is a fairly strong impact (car accident, damage from a working machine, etc.), then prevention simply will not help.

        As you know, fingers are tubular cuticular appendages that are located at the ends of the limbs. Their main function is touch and various manipulations. Humans have two types of fingers: toes and hands. Like any other fracture, there are also closed and open fractures on the fingers. The method of first aid and further treatment depends on the type of injury. There is also a displaced finger fracture, which is the most difficult in traumatological practice, and often ends in surgical intervention on the surgical table.

        Signs of a broken finger

        How to determine a finger fracture? Generally speaking, a fracture of a finger, whether on a leg or on a hand, is similar, but it has its own characteristics. External signs of a finger fracture are not always able to describe the full picture and identify the fracture. For example, symptoms such as swelling, hematoma and blue discoloration of the outer skin in the area of ​​injury may not conceal a fracture, but a banal bruise. Even a marginal fracture of a finger may not be immediately detectable. But symptoms such as shortening of the phalanx, crepitus (crunching of bones), very severe pain when trying to perform habitual movements give reason to assume that you actually have a fracture. When palpated, you can feel a protrusion of the bone, possibly hemorrhage. Naturally, the most reliable way to determine an accurate diagnosis is to undergo an X-ray examination, since the symptoms are often unreliable.

        It’s another matter if the patient has an open fracture of a finger, then it is clearly visible that he does not have a bruise. Bones may protrude from the wound, and the functionality of the limb simply fades into the background. As a rule, this fracture is not accompanied by heavy bleeding, since there are no central arteries in the fingers. The patient will simply experience unbearable pain, especially when making movements. If a finger gets caught in a production machine or other dangerous equipment, the phalanges may simply break and they will completely lose their appearance.

        If the symptoms don't quite fit, you may just have a bruised finger , read about it. dislocation of a finger or toe is also possible . Read these articles to know for sure.

        First aid for a broken finger

        What to do if your finger is broken? In the first seconds after an injury, it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim before hospital. First aid for a broken finger involves immobilizing the injured finger. A tire is used for this. Ice cream sticks, ballpoint pens, tree branches are perfect as a splint, and a piece of bandage or fabric for fastening. To reduce pain and swelling, you can apply a piece of ice or a cold water bottle to the area of ​​the injured finger. The ice must first be wrapped in a cloth or towel. Perhaps a nail bruise , in which case read the article about this.

        Video: first aid for a broken finger

        Development of a finger after a fracture

        After the bones in your finger or fingers have fused and the cast has finally been removed, a very important and time-consuming period begins, which raises only one question: how to develop a finger after a fracture? At first it will seem that these are not your fingers, which will only bring discomfort. All this can be corrected, and special rehabilitation exercises can help. Developing a finger after a fracture should begin with minimal loads so as not to re-injure the damaged bones.

        1. Consistently but slowly squeeze and spread your fingers apart. To begin with, a calm pace is enough, then you can speed up.

        2. Try to touch the tip of each finger to the end of your thumb. It may not work at first, so repeat this exercise until it works, as this is important for recovery.

        3. Make circular movements with each finger individually, first counterclockwise and then clockwise.

        4.Snap your fingers. This is a very simple exercise that is great for finger recovery.

        5.You can clench your fingers into a fist and then sharply straighten them. This exercise is done as sharply as possible.

        How to determine a fracture?

        No one is immune from injuries and physical damage. You don't have to have an accident or be attacked by hooligans to break something or get a bruise. You can also get injured at home.

        If a sharp pain occurs at the moment of physical impact, then it is impossible to immediately understand whether the bruise is a fracture.

        To provide adequate assistance, you need to know exactly how a bruise differs from a fracture. But this does not mean that you should not consult a doctor. With many injuries and severe swelling, even an experienced doctor cannot understand the extent of the injury. For these cases, there is an x-ray.

        The main signs of injury are severe swelling, a hematoma that can “spread” far enough from the damaged area, and severe pain.

        In case of bruise, damage is limited to soft tissues and periosteum. The smaller the subcutaneous fat or muscle layer, the more painful the injury.

        Mobility may be temporarily limited, but this condition is caused not by internal damage, but by swelling of surrounding tissues.

        If the integrity of the bone tissue is violated, movement becomes almost impossible - an attempt to change the position causes severe pain. Moreover, this pain can be felt throughout the body due to nerve innervation.

        The pain is present even at rest - on the soft tissues, in addition to the swollen surfaces, the displaced bone fragments exert pressure from the inside. The muscles reflexively contract, trying to return to a given position, but this is impossible to do - the pain increases.

        If the fracture is not displaced, then at rest the pain may be moderate.

        A characteristic sign of a fracture is a pronounced hematoma - when the integrity of the bones is damaged, small and large vessels are damaged, and internal hemorrhage occurs. But - for example - with a hip fracture, a hematoma may appear only after a day or even two, since the bone is surrounded by a dense muscle layer.

        Features of fractures

        • How to accurately determine a broken finger or toe? Symptoms of this type of injury resemble a severe bruise - severe pain is felt in the damaged joint, mobility is limited, swelling and hematoma occur. If the integrity of the bone of a finger on the hand is damaged, it is often impossible to clench a fist, or, on the contrary, the finger seems to hang on a thread and deviates in an uncharacteristic direction, of course, this will cause severe pain.
        • A lot depends on which phalanx the fracture is located closer to.

          If you have a toe injury, it is painful to step on your foot, regardless of which toe is injured. How to determine whether an injury is a broken toe or a bruise?

          This can only be said after an x-ray.

        • How to independently determine a broken nose? A nasal fracture resembles a bruise - severe bleeding and swelling are almost always present.
        • However, there are signs that will help differentiate one injury from another.

          1. Violation of the integrity of bone tissue is often accompanied by loss of consciousness or painful shock.
          2. When palpated, the pain intensifies and the patient himself can hear the crunching of debris.
          3. Severe hemorrhages in the form of glasses appear under the eyes.
          4. In case of this type of injury, you cannot refuse medical care. Individual fragments can damage surrounding tissue, which subsequently increases the likelihood of vision impairment. A nasal injury often occurs in the context of a concussion or spinal injury in the cervical region.

          5. How to determine whether a rib fracture has occurred or just a soft tissue bruise in the chest area?
          6. Symptoms of a broken rib are as follows:

            1. the pain is general, it is innervated throughout the entire affected area, but it is possible to determine the most painful point;
            2. at rest, the pain subsides;
            3. it becomes painful to breathe, the chest descends unevenly - sometimes when you inhale you can see where the damage occurred;
            4. upon palpation, the pain intensifies.

            If the ribs are broken in the front, then the pain is more acute; if the damage is from the back, then the victim may experience only slight discomfort. Sometimes with a bruise the pain syndrome is even more intense than with a break.

          7. How to determine what happened, a broken foot or a bruise? Types of injuries can be classified depending on the location of the injury - whether the integrity of the tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, or phalanges of the fingers is damaged. Edema and hematoma occur in all cases.
          8. If the integrity of the metatarsal bones is damaged:

          9. pain when supporting the foot and palpating it;
          10. foot deformity;
          11. bilateral swelling.
          12. Violation of the integrity of the tarsal bones:

          13. swelling spreads to the ankle joint;
          14. pain occurs when turning the foot, and not just when supporting it;
          15. noticeable deformation.
          16. Finger fractures have already been discussed in this article.

            Hip fractures account for 6% of all bone fractures. In elderly people they are diagnosed in 40% of all injuries of this kind.

            If the integrity of the femoral neck is violated, pain occurs in the hip joint and groin; palpation increases the pain in the depths, but does not cause sudden attacks.

            With trochanteric fractures - the end of the femur - attacks of pain are severe, increasing when trying to change position, the leg is turned outward. If there is a shift of bone fragments, the damaged limb appears shorter. It is impossible to tear your leg off the surface - it does not rise.

            With impacted fractures, severe pain often appears only during injury, and then patients lean on the injured limb, and the injury is mistaken for a bruise.

            With these injuries, doctors try to play it safe and, along with an X-ray examination, prescribe an MRI of the hip joint.

            Signs of a spinal fracture:

          17. acute pain radiating to the upper or lower extremities, sometimes directly to the arms and legs;
          18. weakness, dizziness, nausea;
          19. periodic easing of pain in the initial period is replaced by acute attacks.
          20. With a compression fracture, mobility is practically unlimited.

            Features of providing assistance in cases of violation of bone integrity

            The main help after injuries whose symptoms resemble fractures - an accurate diagnosis can only be made after an x-ray - is to provide rest to the victim.

            This is especially important to do if the spine is damaged - in this case, inept assistance can lead to complete paralysis of the victim.

            In case of spinal injury, you can only provide a comfortable position on your own - if you suspect a cervical injury, you need to secure your neck with a collar.

            If there is a suspicion of a violation of the integrity of the bone, the victim should be kept at rest and cold applied to the damaged area.

            Nose injury. You need to sit up straight, bend forward a little, pinch the wings of your nose with your fingers, pressing your nostrils, you need to try to stop the bleeding. A cold compress of ice or a handkerchief moistened with cold water should be applied to the bridge of the nose. If the bones are broken, the bleeding will last a long time.

            If, after a rib fracture, the patient has blood in the sputum, a doctor should be contacted as an emergency - this indicates that bone fragments have damaged the lungs. In other cases, many do not seek official medical help: in case of a non-displaced fracture, you can do without even a tight bandage.

            Any violation of the integrity of the limbs or fingers. First aid is to ensure that the injured part of the body remains immobile until seeking medical attention. In the future, most likely, you will have to spend 3-4 weeks in a cast. Limb immobilization is also necessary when the integrity of the femur is compromised.

            There is no need to guess on your own whether a bone is broken or not - you should definitely consult a doctor. Without an x-ray, it is extremely difficult even for a specialist to make an accurate diagnosis.

            Restoring the necessary functions after such damage is possible only after competent treatment, which is prescribed individually based on the clinical picture.

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