A broken finger is an injury that can occur not only in adults, but also in children, so it should not be underestimated.
Today we will talk about this topic so that you know what signs are characteristic of this type of injury, how to provide first aid to yourself or the victim, and how to develop the injured part of the body after treatment.
A common type of industrial and domestic injuries is a fracture of a finger, a condition characterized by a change in the anatomical position of the phalangeal bones.
Injuries localized in the distal part of the hand are the result of injuries of both a direct nature (a blow or an unsuccessful fall) and indirect ones, resulting from sharp extension or forced rotational movements (twisting).
The choice of treatment tactics depends on the type of fracture.
A timely visit to a traumatologist will ensure high effectiveness of treatment measures and will allow you to avoid various complications in the future, in particular, limited functionality of the injured limb. A fractured finger is often confused with a bruise or dislocation , but some signs indicate the likelihood of bone damage:
An open problem of the phalanx with displacement, accompanied by deformation of the injured part, an open wound and the presence of bone fragments, can be visually diagnosed. Bruises without displacement require radiographic examination in at least two projections to exclude a contusion or dislocation, to clarify the nature and location of the blow, as well as the direction of displacement of bone fragments.
As with a suspected arm fracture, first aid involves immobilizing the injured finger with a splint. Any available materials are suitable for its manufacture: wooden ice cream sticks, ballpoint pen bodies or small twigs. The splint is fixed using a bandage or a piece of fabric.
A serious danger is posed by an open fracture of the phalanx , which is often accompanied by infection of muscle and bone tissue. To avoid complications, the wound should be treated using disinfectants.
The next stage of pre-hospital care is to reduce pain and relieve swelling by applying a piece of ice or a bottle of cold water to the wounded part. A cold object should be wrapped in a towel or cloth so as not to cause hypothermia of the skin.
After providing first aid, the victim should be taken to the emergency room, where the displacement will be repositioned, the wound will be disinfected and closed, and the broken finger will be immobilized using a palmar plaster splint or Beller splint.
As a rule, treatment takes about a month - during this period complete fusion of the bones occurs. The duration of fixation is minimal, since scarring of soft tissues (tendons and fascia) injured as a result of a fracture significantly limits the functionality of the nearby joint and the limb as a whole.
After removing the plaster, the rehabilitation stage begins - the development of the problematic part of the limb is complex and includes physiotherapeutic procedures, physical therapy and massage.
Exercises to restore the functionality of the phalanx include squeezing and spreading them to the side with a gradual acceleration of the pace, alternating contact of the tips of each finger with the pad of the thumb, circular movements of each of them in different directions, and clicks.
This article tells you all about a broken toe. The causes of injury, symptoms, diagnostic methods and treatment are described. Fractures of small bones often go unnoticed or are diagnosed as a contusion or dislocation.
A broken toe is no exception. If left untreated, injury can lead to unpleasant consequences.
The toes are important for human movement. They give the foot flexibility and stability. Therefore, a fracture of the middle toe, like any other, disrupts a person’s usual way of life.
Each finger consists of three tubular bones - phalanges. The only exception is the big toe - it consists of two phalanges.
The causes of a broken toe may be:
The mechanism of injury is most often direct, when the impact occurs directly on the finger. With indirect impact, an avulsion fracture is observed. Such causes are called traumatic when a fracture occurs due to intense impact. 95% of fractures occur for these reasons.
Other causes of bone damage are pathological. They are associated with increased fragility and fragility of bone tissue. Osteoporosis, bone tuberculosis, and cancer pathology lead to this condition. These causes account for 5% of fractures.
Most often, a person breaks the first finger - it is exposed to the greatest stress and is least protected. The second most common fracture is the fifth toe, the little toe. Although it is the smallest, it is located on the outer edge of the foot and is often exposed to external factors.
The classification of toe fractures is diverse and takes into account different characteristics.
Table. Types of toe fractures:
When making a diagnosis, all characteristics are taken into account.
How to recognize a broken toe? To properly diagnose an injury, you need to know its symptoms. They are divided into probable and reliable.
Based on the probable signs, it is impossible to say with certainty whether it is a fracture, bruise or dislocation. Reliable signs allow us to speak with greater confidence about a fracture.
Possible signs include:
Reliable signs of injury are:
You need to feel your finger carefully to prevent displacement of bone fragments. Damage to the capillaries can lead to the formation of a subcutaneous hematoma, which will be clearly visible. With an open fracture, a wound forms on the finger, inside which bone fragments are visible. You can learn more about the symptoms of injury from the video in this article.
It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on patient complaints and examination data alone. The symptoms of a fracture are similar to those of a bruise and dislocation. In order to distinguish whether a bruise, dislocation, crack or fracture of a toe has occurred, an x-ray examination is required.
A method such as computed tomography is the most accurate. However, it is not used to diagnose a finger fracture. There is no need for this study for such an injury, and the cost of tomography is too high to be performed for a fractured finger.
Treatment for a broken toe should begin immediately at the scene of the incident. If there is a suspicion of injury, the victim should not be released to the emergency room on their own. The best option would be to call an ambulance. It is also possible to transport the patient to the hospital by personal transport.
What to do if you break your toe before specialists arrive? First aid for a broken toe is carried out using available methods and materials.
In case of severe pain, it is allowed to give the victim painkillers in tablets. If the fracture is accompanied by damage to the skin, you need to wash the wound, after which a clean bandage is applied for a broken toe.
The doctor at the emergency room examines the victim, conducts the necessary examinations and makes recommendations. If the toe is fractured without displacement, applying a tight bandage or plaster from the tips of the toes to the ankle is sufficient. The period of such immobilization is 2-3 weeks. Outpatient treatment of injury is allowed.
An internal fracture of the toe with displacement is an indication for repositioning of fragments. It is usually done manually. After this, a plaster cast is applied and further treatment proceeds as for a simple fracture.
Surgery is only required for comminuted fractures. The fragments are compared and fixed with metal screws. Complications of a broken toe occur infrequently, only in cases where medical care was not provided in a timely manner or was not provided at all.
These include:
To avoid these complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Patients with fractures require adequate nutrition to promote the rapid formation of callus. To do this, your diet should include foods containing calcium every day. Dairy products are richest in this mineral.
For symptomatic treatment, medications are used:
They are prescribed both internally in the form of tablets and topically, for application to the damaged finger. What to apply for a broken toe depends on the most severe symptoms. For pain relief, ointments and creams such as Dolgit, Nurofen, and Voltaren are used. They are applied to the finger 2-3 times a day with massaging movements.
Folk remedies for a broken toe can only be used in consultation with the attending physician:
Important points in the treatment of a broken finger are massage and therapeutic exercises. They prevent the development of complications and contribute to the restoration of motor function. Instructions for performing these procedures are given by a rehabilitation specialist.
How long it takes for a broken toe to heal depends on several factors:
On average, with an injury such as a broken toe, working capacity is fully restored within a month.
Bone injuries in children are quite common. Finger fractures are caused by minor injuries sustained during games or sports. Injury to the toes is much less common than to the hands. Severe traumatic injuries are rare among children: only in 3-10 percent of cases.
Childhood finger injuries are very specific, due to the fact that bone tissue contains a considerable amount of ossein protein (in adults its content is much less), and the membrane around the bones is well supplied with blood, the periosteum is thick, and there are growth zones. Children's bones are characterized by the following features:
Common reasons are:
The above diseases significantly reduce the strength of bones, which become very fragile and brittle.
Bones in the lower extremities can break in several places at once. Symptoms directly depend on the location where the fracture is located. Symptoms of finger injuries are relative and absolute.
The damaged integrity of the bones in the area of the distal phalanges is characterized by mild, aching pain. A fracture localized in the area of the main phalanx causes severe pain. The pain will be more pronounced due to the fact that the main phalanx articulates with the bony skeletons of the leg. Large vessels run along the main phalanx; as a result, the bruising under the skin and nails will be more pronounced. If the fracture touched the 2, 3 and 4 fingers, the child will not feel it.
A fracture of the thumb has its own characteristics:
Big toes are prone to intra-articular disorders and fractures. The disorders are very painful and the person is unable to step on the affected part of the body. The entire part of the child's body below the knee swells, causing severe pain that prevents normal walking. The leg takes on a characteristic bluish tint.
Absolute signs of a fracture:
Traumatic injuries are divided into open and closed. An open fracture of a finger is a type of violation of the integrity of the bone when the skin ruptures and fragments break out. If a child has this type of lesion, then it should not be delayed. An open wound surface can collect infectious agents. It is necessary to urgently apply an aseptic bandage to the wound and take the child to the trauma department. Traumatologists are required to prescribe antitetanus serum and antibacterial drugs. Open injuries are most often observed in adolescents when playing sports, playing football, etc.
A closed injury is characterized by maintaining the integrity of the skin. They respond especially well to treatment if individual bone parts do not move.
Displaced bone injuries usually occur through a combination of trauma and contraction of the muscular frame that attaches to the broken bones. Debris can damage not only blood vessels, but also nerves and muscles. In this case, surgical intervention is required, since it is necessary to give the child’s fingers the correct anatomical shape.
A comminuted fracture of the finger occurs when the bone is crushed. There is a wound surface with fragments visible in the wound.
Edge fractures are most often observed during running and strong blows to the phalanges.
First aid for a broken finger can be provided by anyone nearby. The important point is to make sure that the damaged area is stationary. It is necessary to carry out immobilization. First of all, you need to remove the child’s shoes. Next, secure the entire foot. To do this, you need to bandage any hard object to it. If there is an open wound, you need to bandage it with a sterile bandage. Infectious agents will not be able to enter the wound area. When bandaging an open wound, aseptic technique must be observed.
Diagnostic measures are carried out by a traumatologist. The specialist interviews, collects anamnesis, and examines the injured limb. The traumatologist determines the relative and absolute signs characteristic of fractures. The most accurate diagnosis is established after an X-ray examination. X-rays show the position of all parts of bone tissue.
Therapeutic measures directly depend on the nature of the injuries. If a child has an open lesion, then there is a possibility of infection of the wound. It festeres and the patient may develop tetanus. The specialist prescribes anti-tetanus serum and antibacterial injections.
If the child has a closed lesion, then the specialist performs closed reduction. It includes returning the fragments to their original places.
Violation of the integrity of the distal sections includes perforation of the nail. Accumulated blood is removed from under the nail. The anatomical area that is damaged is fixed with an adhesive plaster. In certain cases, special “shoes” made of orthopedic materials are prescribed.
In case of complex bone damage, accompanied by displacement or fragments, traumatologists assemble the body part literally “in parts.” When displaced, the most important thing is to put the fragment in the right place and fix it. In cases of poor fixation, the fragments will not heal properly and repeated surgery will be required.
Applying a plaster cast is a conservative method of therapy. If the fracture is located in the area of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers, the trauma surgeon can simply make a plantar splint from plaster.
In cases of damage to the nail phalanx, the following is carried out:
If the middle phalanx is affected, a plaster splint is applied. It can be used for a month or two.
When the thumb area is injured, traumatologists apply a plaster cast, starting from the affected anatomical object and ending with the knee. Pain relief is carried out using narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics (depending on the type of injury):
The healing of the fracture is characterized by the formation of a bone callus. It takes time for it to form. Children wear a splint on the damaged area for about 6 weeks or more.
Surgical intervention is mandatory for intra-articular lesions of the thumb. The doctor performs an open reposition of parts of the bone frame and fixes them inside the joint using knitting needles. The joint will begin to function again only by the 8th week. The child is prescribed vitamins:
The victim should eat rationally. The menu must include cottage cheese, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat products. Parents should monitor their child's bowel movements. Bowel movement is usually impaired because the person cannot move fully and spends a significant amount of time in a sitting or lying position.
The recovery and rehabilitation process includes:
Muscle load is carried out in doses. First, the patient should step lightly on his leg using crutches. The crutch is then replaced with a cane. After using the cane, you are allowed to step on your foot completely. While walking, muscle tone is activated. Without performing therapeutic exercises, muscles can atrophy. Therapeutic exercises are prescribed by a doctor. They must be performed at least 2 times a day.
A person must strictly follow the recommendations of the treating traumatologist. Only then will he be able to quickly return to his former life. To avoid unpleasant phenomena when wearing a plaster cast, you need to be patient and keep your leg elevated (to reduce swelling).
Before removing the splint, the doctor orders a final x-ray examination. After removing it, some children “wean off” their leg (they get used to the hard splint). It is necessary to wrap an elastic bandage around your leg for 2-4 days to get used to it.
After an injury, psychological problems may arise. Violation of the integrity of the lower limb is perceived much more severely than the upper one. It is necessary to develop a new daily routine and adequate care. Ensuring a cheerful mood and positive emotions are the most important criteria that parents can provide to their children. Meetings and communication with friends should not be prohibited.
A fracture is a violation of the anatomical integrity of bone structures. It can be partial or complete, often accompanied by damage to nearby soft tissues. A fracture is characterized by dysfunction of the affected segment. There are several classifications of this injury. First of all, traumatic and pathological fractures are distinguished. In relation to the time elapsed since the injury, fresh, old, ununited fractures, as well as false joints are considered. Based on the nature of the injuries, doctors distinguish between isolated, multiple and combined injuries. Such mutilations can be closed or open. The latter are characterized by a violation of the integrity of soft tissues.
Each type has a characteristic list of manifestations, which are not always universal. For example, with osteoporosis, pathological vertebral fractures rarely cause acute pain, while classic traumatic violations of bone integrity are extremely painful, even to the point of shock. In general, the following signs of injury can be identified:
Reliable manifestations of a fracture include shortening of the damaged element, pathological mobility and crepitus. Possible symptoms include pain upon palpation, deformation at the site of bone fracture, characteristic position of the limb, and obvious discomfort during axial load.
Signs of fracture should be correlated with imaging findings. For example, a helical fracture of the tibia almost always involves the fibula, but this may not be visible on x-rays. The doctor relies on pain on palpation under the head of the bone and slightly above the syndesmosis.
Significant symptoms are characteristic mainly of diaphyseal fractures of long tubular bones, injuries of the ribs and clavicle. Such signs are barely noticeable or completely absent when:
In most cases, trauma occurs as a result of exposure to physical forces. First of all, this happens when:
The victim may not immediately notice the symptoms of a fracture, which leads to even greater damage to surrounding tissue due to attempts to actively move. The stronger the bone, the greater the amount of force that must be applied to cause a fracture to occur. Under normal conditions, the musculoskeletal system is able to withstand significant loads. However, the risk of injury increases if the composition of the bone tissue is disturbed or there are defects in its structure. Fractures occur more often in patients with:
In such people, a bone can break not only from an ordinary fall, but also when performing household tasks or minor physical activity. To reduce the risk of fractures, it is necessary to replenish the lack of calcium and other elements as much as possible.
It is not possible to independently provide the necessary conditions for fusion and restore damaged tissue. Doctors of the following specialties provide qualified assistance and prescribe treatment for bone fractures:
When a patient is admitted, the doctor needs to obtain an objective clinical picture. It is formed from:
The specialist analyzes the position of the limb. It can be active, passive and forced. The manifestations of damage to the main arteries in closed injuries are important. There is an increased risk of violating the integrity of blood vessels with injuries of the femur in the lower part and the tibia in the upper part.
Doctors calm a patient admitted with an injury by administering painkillers. Next, the fracture site is strengthened to immobilize the bone. Then the patient is sent for an X-ray or MRI, CT. Based on the results, a decision is made about surgery, casting or extension. Conservative treatment with plaster is indicated for:
Surgical intervention is resorted to if it is necessary to reduce the bone or tighten it using knitting needles or tubes. The surgeon's task is:
Osteosynthesis is often performed, which involves the use of plates and metal structures that block bone fragments. Retainers can be internal or external. In some cases, the patient is placed in traction. The extension method is indicated for significant bone displacement. The method is very effective in the treatment of comminuted fractures.
It is imperative to transport a patient with an injury to a medical facility. Until this point, competent first aid for fractures is required. It is as follows:
It is important for others to pay attention to the presence of traumatic shock, external or internal bleeding. The patient should be reassured and, if necessary, a cardiac drug or anesthetic should be used. In case of bleeding, apply a tourniquet, which should be used for no longer than 1.5 hours.
The vulnerable spot must be immobilized. For this purpose, both ready-made and improvised tires are used. Their main tasks are to fix the fracture, as well as reduce pain, and reduce the risk of concomitant injuries to soft tissues and organs. Providing first aid for fractures helps create optimal conditions for healing.
A fracture or bruise of a finger in children and adults, how to determine what exactly happened? Most often, fractures and bruises of bones occur in children, as well as in pregnant and lactating women and older people. Toddlers often like to insert their little hands or feet into various heavy doors. For example, entrance doors on the street or even car doors. In this case, it happens that the door is slammed by the child himself or by an adult who has not seen the child. Moreover, kids can do this several times in a row. Once is not enough for them to test their arms and legs for strength. What if it happened by accident and next time it will be much more interesting? Of course, you need to carefully monitor children under 3 years of age. It’s better if adults follow them around all day. There is very little hope for older children and teenagers. They themselves love to play and they don’t want to watch the kids at all. The good news is that even babies get injured quite often. Especially nimble boys suffer from injuries all the time. And some girls come across as active. But bruises are more common than fractures. The bones of babies can be compared to young branches. They bend well and are subject to great physical stress, and almost always withstand the load without breaking.
1. If your baby has injured an arm or leg, first of all you need to calm the baby and reassure the parents. If your baby is breastfed, give him the breast. 2.At this time, apply ice to the sore arm or leg. Small children don't really like having ice or snow applied to them. But this procedure must be done, it relieves pain well. 3. Give any children's painkiller, we usually use homeopathy. Children's pain relievers should always be in your first aid kit. 4. Lubricate your finger with anti-bruise ointment. It is better to use arnica ointment, it is of plant origin. Ointment for bruises should always be in the first aid kit. 5. After first aid has been provided (points 1-3), you can begin to identify symptoms. It is necessary to decide that a fracture or bruise has occurred. It is better to call an ambulance or take the baby to the emergency room. Sometimes there are situations when you are on the road or outside the city and it is very far to travel to the nearest settlement. Then you need to check it yourself. Watch the baby. If the finger bends, then it is a bruise. The child must bend the finger himself; under no circumstances put pressure on the finger or bend it. You can pull a little or test the mobility, but these procedures should be done by an experienced specialist. If the finger has increased mobility, then it is broken. Tap lightly on the finger; if it hurts, it means the child has a fracture. 6. Babies have such small fingers that even an X-ray will not always accurately tell an experienced specialist whether it is a fracture or a bruise. 7. If the injury occurred at night and you did not go to the emergency room, then observe the child in the morning. If the finger is swollen and increased in size, you urgently need to go to the emergency room or call an ambulance at home. 8. First aid for bruises: apply ice and make a fixing bandage. The bandage should not be tight enough and at the same time not fall off. It is better to apply a bandage with ointment at night. 9. To break up the bruise, usually on the second day, you need to apply an alcohol bandage. Moisten cotton wool with alcohol or vodka diluted with water and place a plastic bag on top. And make a fixing bandage for the night. For children, you need to make a weak solution so as not to burn the skin. The skin under the bandage will be slightly wrinkled, but it will quickly melt and the bruise will disappear. 10. A bruise is easily broken up with an ointment called bodyaga. Or a compress of dry bodyaga for a few minutes. 11. Even if the injury is on a toe or hand, it is better to see a specialist. You don’t know what your baby will grow up to be. Maybe he will be a great pianist or athlete, but a wrongly fused finger will ruin his career.
Fractures of the toes are a fairly common type of injury among the population. According to statistics, this type of injury occurs in 3-5% of all bone fractures. Most often, the 1st and 5th toes (big and little toes) are affected.
Unfortunately, most people underestimate the severity of such an injury. Due to scant clinical symptoms and mild pain syndrome with closed toe fractures, few people seek timely specialized medical care. This leads to a high risk of complications, which sometimes cause much more inconvenience than the injury itself.
In this article we will talk about a fracture of the little toe, how to recognize it, what needs to be done in case of such an injury, how to treat it and prevent the development of complications.
The skeleton of the little toe consists of 3 phalangeal bones, each of which can suffer from a fracture
All fractures, depending on the reason that caused them, are usually divided into 2 categories:
Fractures of the little toes in most cases are classified as traumatic. It is very easy to get such an injury due to the fragility and small size of the bones that form the phalanges of the little toes on the feet. It can be as simple as hitting your toe on furniture (a very common cause of a fracture), kicking a ball or other object hard, or having someone step on your foot or drop a weight on your little toe.
Hitting the little finger on sharp corners of furniture is the most common cause of a finger fracture.
It is very easy to suspect a fracture of the little toe. All signs of such an injury can be divided into 2 categories: probable (which allow one to suspect a fracture) and reliable (which confirm a violation of the integrity of the bones).
Possible symptoms of a fractured little finger:
Reliable signs of a fractured little finger:
It is not worth performing a special check for reliable symptoms of a fracture of the little finger, since such manipulations cause an exacerbation of the pain syndrome. These signs can be noted accidentally when the patient moves or performs transport immobilization.
The symptoms described above will help you suspect a fracture of the finger, but only an X-ray examination can confirm the diagnosis.
The picture clearly shows a fracture of the main phalanx of the little finger with displacement of the fragments
As a rule, x-rays of the foot are taken in frontal and lateral projections. This makes it possible not only to establish the fact of a violation of the integrity of one of the phalanges of the little finger or its absence, but also to consider whether there is displacement of bone fragments, since therapeutic tactics depend on this. If the fracture is not determined by radiography, then a diagnosis of bruise of the little finger is made.
The algorithm for providing first aid for a fracture of the little finger depends on its type (closed or open). If there is damage to the integrity of the skin, then treatment measures begin with stopping the bleeding and disinfecting the open wound. Further, all measures are of a general nature for both open and closed fractures. Do I need to call an ambulance? This is recommended, but not required.
First aid measures for suspected fracture of the little finger:
This is how immobilization is carried out in case of a fracture of the little finger
Treatment can be conservative (closed reduction of fragments and fixation of the finger in the correct position) or surgical (open reduction and fixation with osteosynthesis). As a rule, fractures of the little finger are treated conservatively; surgery is required in rare cases.
Today there is an alternative to a conventional plaster cast for a fracture of the little toe
All patients with a fractured finger are prescribed a course of pain relief and anti-inflammatory therapy. Treatment is supplemented with hemostatic agents, vitamins, and calcium supplements to accelerate the rate of healing.
For long-term immobilization of the little toe, plaster (a bandage on the entire foot) was previously used in most cases. The wearing period varies from person to person: from 2 to 4 weeks. For this purpose, modern medicine uses bandages made of a special material (Scotchkast) or other orthopedic products (orthoses, finger splints).
It is difficult to answer the question of how long it takes for a fracture of the little toe to heal, since this is directly dependent on a specific clinical situation and on the timeliness and completeness of treatment measures. As a rule, this process takes 1-2 months.
After the process of fusion of bone tissue is completed, the patient should undergo a course of restorative therapy. It includes special gymnastic exercises, physiotherapeutic procedures, and massage. Rehabilitation measures may take another 1-2 months.
Most often, a fracture of the little finger is not accompanied by severe clinical symptoms; this contributes to the delayed diagnosis of such an injury, since patients prefer not to seek medical help if the pain is not pronounced and can be tolerated. Unfortunately, the consequences of such neglect of health are very serious. Let's look at the most common complications of a little finger fracture.
Whenever there is a violation of the integrity of the bone, a callus is formed, which is designed to restore the continuity of the bone and resume its function. This is a physiological process, without which the fracture will not heal. The size of the callus depends on the comparison of bone fragments: the more accurate it is, the less newly formed tissue is present, and the faster healing will occur.
If the victim does not seek medical help and the fragments are not repositioned, a lot of callus can form, as the body tries with all its might to restore the continuity of the broken phalanx. The main problem of a voluminous callus is a decrease in the rate of healing of the defect, and such tissue is a source of inflammation and constant pain.
The main signs of a fracture of the little finger: swelling, deformation of the finger, its unnatural position, pain and bruising
This complication occurs after a displaced fracture, when there is no treatment. Due to the large distance between the two fragments, it is not the fusion of bone tissue that occurs, but the formation of a false joint. The bone canals of the bones close, their ends are rounded, and instead of one phalanx of the finger, two are formed.
What is the danger? The fact is that the false joint is defective; it does not have a cartilaginous layer. This leads to increased friction between the ends of the bones, which is accompanied by chronic inflammation and constant pain. Also, such a finger will not perform its function: neither motor nor supporting.
With fractures of the toes, in particular the little finger, ankylosis very often develops (complete disappearance of the joint space and fusion of two adjacent phalanges). This feature is associated with the anatomy of this part of the skeleton. The fact is that the phalanges of the little finger are very short, and fractures often affect the subchondral area (the bone directly under the articular surface). This is accompanied by a violent inflammatory reaction and the disappearance of the joint space (it is replaced by callus, and subsequently by bone tissue).
This is an inflammation of the bone marrow. It develops with open fractures, when infection enters the bone directly from the external environment. The main prevention of osteomyelitis in fractures is primary surgical treatment of the wound. If it was not there (the patient did not seek medical help), then there is a high risk of wound infection with the development of such a dangerous complication as osteomyelitis.
In conclusion, we can say that a fracture of the little toe is a rather serious and insidious injury that can cause loss of function not only of the finger, but of the entire foot. Therefore, if you suspect such an injury, even in the absence of severe pain, you must seek specialized medical help.
In the vast majority of cases, the small bones of the toes break due to:
Or other similar factors affecting a primarily unchanged, healthy bone.
Some diseases also reduce the strength of bone tissue:
It is necessary to know and understand that the following toe fractures differ:
In the event of an open fracture of the toe, bone fragments break through the muscles, skin, and ligaments and therefore there is contact with the external environment. Regarding pathological fractures, in rare cases they can be open. Based on the anatomical structure of the toes, they can break in several places on the foot. In this case, the clinical manifestations of the fracture will directly depend on the location of the integral bone disorder. However, to determine a fracture, there are special symptoms that clearly indicate a fracture of the toe, excluding any assumptions. Naturally, radiography will always have the final word.
Regarding the symptoms of a fracture, there are:
Continuing the conversation, we want to emphasize that the relative signs themselves only allow us to assume the idea of a possible fracture, but not to confirm this condition in any way. In turn, absolute signs indicate a bone fracture with an accuracy of 1%.
The manifestation of signs of a toe fracture will entirely depend on the actual location of the fracture. In the case of a fracture of the distal phalanx, the pain will not be as severe as in the case of damage to the main phalanx, which connects to the bones of the foot. Quite surprising are the cases of fractures of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and also the 5th toes during which, in most cases, a violation of their natural function cannot always be noticed. That is why the patient does not even seek medical help immediately, but only after a significant increase in pain.
A fracture of the thumb is always accompanied by more pronounced characteristic symptoms that are easily explained. The thing is that the thumb consists of only two phalanges, not three. When walking, the lion's share of the load falls on it rather than on other fingers. Based on what has been said, it is the fracture of the big toe that will be much more accompanied by sharp and extremely severe pain, which will not give the patient any opportunity to lean on the leg with the injured toe. Regarding swelling, it can also spread to neighboring toes or even to the entire foot. The leg will take on a bluish tint and will also look swollen.
It is also necessary to mention that, to one degree or another, relative symptoms will always be expressed in the event of a broken toe. A localized fracture of the toe on the distal phalanges will always have less severe symptoms than in the case of a fracture of the main phalanx, which communicates with the bones of the foot. Today, it is the fracture of the big toe that is the most common in the list of toe fractures.
As a rule, a fracture is provoked by strong traumatic blows or a simple twisting of the leg. A fractured thumb requires urgent hospitalization. In case of such a fracture, the patient will be given a plaster cast from the upper third to the actual broken finger. Regarding the timing of applying such a bandage, you need to know that you will have to wear it for five to six weeks.
In case of a broken toe, treatment must begin from the first second of injury. In other words, it is necessary to indicate the first emergency medical aid, namely:
All of the above requirements will greatly simplify all further complications and suffering of the patient himself. An open fracture of the toe is not capable of causing severe bleeding due to the absence of large arteries. Regarding the treatment regimen, it will depend entirely on the nature of the damage. An open fracture will require not only repositioning of bone fragments and immobilization of the limb, but also antibiotic therapy, which will prevent the occurrence of secondary infection . In case of fractures of the second, third, fourth and fifth toe, treatment can be carried out without applying a plaster cast.
Everything will be done with an ordinary splint, which will need to be worn for four to seven weeks . In order to reduce pain, you can use special orthopedic shoes or ordinary ones that have a hard sole. If an intra-articular fracture of a toe is detected, doctors quite often resort to surgical intervention, which consists of open reduction with intra-articular fixation with special knitting needles. In any case, the establishment of compression-distraction devices is used.
After completing the course of treatment, the functioning of broken fingers is completely restored after two months. In order to accelerate the processes of regeneration and recovery, restorative therapy is used as an additional step. In turn, the restoration of bone tissue will be facilitated in every possible way by physiotherapeutic procedures.