Broken toe

Overview

A broken toe is a common injury that's most frequently caused by dropping something on your foot or stubbing your toe.

Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe. But if the fracture is severe — particularly if it involves your big toe — you may need a cast or even surgery to ensure proper healing.

Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. Sometimes, a broken toe may become infected or increase the risk of osteoarthritis in that toe in the future.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a broken toe include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Discoloration

When to see a doctor

Consult a doctor if the pain, swelling and discoloration continue for more than a few days or if the injury interferes with walking or wearing shoes.

Causes

A broken toe typically happens when you drop something heavy on your foot or you stub your toe against something hard.

Complications

Complications may include:

• Infection. If the skin is cut near your injured toe, you are at higher risk of developing an infection in the bone.
• Osteoarthritis. This wear-and-tear type of arthritis is more likely to occur when the fracture extends into one of the toe joints.