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Transverse Process Fracture Football Article
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Broken Toes
from: Dr. Jeffrey A. Oster, Medical Director Of Myfootshop.com.It's the middle of the night. You're trying to make it to the bathroom and....crack. You hit the bed post with your foot. After waking the rest of the family with your howls, you inspect the toe only to find it is rapidly turning blue with a bruise. It's a broken toe.
Most toes break in a spiral oblique manner meaning that the bone breaks and spirals through the proximal phalanx, or bone closest to the foot. The majority of cases that show bruising are fractures.
Treatment of a broken toe
Broken toes are tough to treat but if we stick to some fracture care principles we know we're going to help. First, it is a good idea to get an X-ray. The key to healing is to insure that the fracture is aligned and shows good apposition. Without good alignment and good apposition the fracture will not only take longer to heal but may heal incorrectly and be crooked.
Second, rest is imperative. Rest can be many things from bed rest to a walking cast. Rest will allow the body to begin the process of healing.
Buddy splinting of the toes works for some and not for others. Toes are difficult to wrap therefore they're tough to splint. Self adherent wrap such as Coban works well for buddy splinting of the toes.
Ice, elevation and an anti-inflammatory medication helps ease the pain. Fractured toes may take up to 10 weeks to heal.
About the Author
Jeffrey A. Oster, DPM, C.Ped is a board certified foot and ankle surgeon. Dr. Oster is also board certified in pedorthics. Dr. Oster is medical director of Myfootshop.com and is in active practice in Granville, Ohio.
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