How do I know if his toe is broken?

“My 5-year-old stubbed his oinky toe pretty hard last night. A couple hours later he was still complaining/crying about the pain. After giving him a bath and letting him watch some tv, it seemed to get better so I sent him to bed.

Now this morning he tells me it still hurts "real bad." But he can walk on it. When I check for swolliness, it seems to be just a bit when compared to the other toe.

Could it be broken? I always thought a broken toe can't be set anyway, so there's no need to see a doctor. I'm not sure if it warrants a weekend trip to the hospital or not.”

“if its broken, it'll be swollen and badly bruised.

If there's no bruising, its not broken.

Treat with ice, maybe put a bandaid on it to make him feel better.”

“he probably wouldn't walk on it, or at least he'd limp really badly, if it were broken too.”

“bruising, swelling and "point" tenderness (tenderness over a specific area, indicating where the break is. Lots of nerves in the lining of the bone and in the bone)

If in doubt, or if it doesn't get better in a day or two needs an X-ray.”

“oinky toe? I meant pinky toe. sheesh...can't type this morning.


Thanks, guys. I will keep an eye on it this morning. No bruising, but he cannot bend it at the "knuckle" like he can with his other toe.”

“If painful, but bruising, point tenderness, swelling are minor, probably a sprain only. Should get better quickly (couple of days)”

“Hmmmm, I just looked at it again in better lighting. It is bruised around the base. He is also running a fever of 100.2. It was 102.4 at 4 a.m.

I assume the fever and the toe are unrelated. And since he can walk and isn't in excruciating pain, I don't think I am going to take him in. I don't know that they can do anything for him anyways.”

“As minor as a pinky toe break can seem...

Last year sass broke her pinky toe. We thought "no biggy" we tapede it to its neighbor and let it heal. Months later she had severe pain in the pinky toe with tenderness all around the area. The long and short of it is this, the break had healed wrong leaving a jagged bone edge that would cut the foot (at the base of the toe) internal causing a 3/4" deep abcess with just a tiny spot visible formthe outside. It looked normal essentially. The solution was surgery, cut the entire pinky toe open from base to tip, filet it back and cut/grind off the offending bone...

I tell you this only to steer you to the doc. It took from may 04 to jan 05 to final resolve sass' toe issue.”

“I recommend a medical inspection. This might save a lot of trouble in the future.

At an appointment in another week,I'll be asking my doctor about one of my toes, the one next to the big toe.. I must have broken it sometime during the past year. It rubbed and caused me discomfort while hiking this spring. The first joint or "knuckle" from the foot sticks up in the air and will not straighten. This is real obvious looking at it while wearing socks.

My guess is that it needs to be rebroken, set and placed in a cast or brace. But this will be for my doctors to determine.
last edited: 7/17/05 11:05:45 AM”

“sorry about my typos...”

“oinky toe? I meant pinky toe. sheesh...can't type this morning. - Ruby

Maybe you were thinking of "This little piggy went to the market ..."? LOL”

“x ray is the only way”

“Just got home from the clinic. When asked which toe hurt, Luke pointed to the wrong foot completely. [shaking my head] But they took x-rays. Doc thinks it isn't broken, but noticed the tenderness and swelling. The radiologist will look at the x-rays more closely tomorrow. Paid a $20 co-pay for peace of mind. [sigh]”

“good to hear nothing is broken.”

“oinky toe? I meant pinky toe. sheesh...can't type this morning. - Ruby

Maybe you were thinking of "This little piggy went to the market ..."? LOL”
Sarge
12:39:41 PM
7/17/05

wouldn't that be the "wee...wee...wee..." toe???

Glad to hear no broken bones....!!!!”

“Give him a shot of my lemonade, then do ya thing Ruby! I have plenty now, just too let you know.”

“kick it. if he screams like a banshee in heat, its broken”

“Yeah, just don't drink as much as Sticks did that night, 'cause....well, you know...
last edited: 7/17/05 8:16:52 PM”

“Don't feel bad. My 4 yr old grandson broke BOTH his arms in 2 places (4 bones) this summer, one right after another. He gets to take it off just before Frost Valley day camp/”

“When asked which toe hurt, Luke pointed to the wrong foot completely. [shaking my head] Lol....this sounds like one of my kids
Good to hear there's no broken bones!! :-)”

“Go figure. The radiologist's office just called. Seems his toe is broken after all. Luke is thrilled.”

“Bummer about his toe! Thank goodness the kids hike is in sand, nice and cushy. The swimming will be good rehab, so will the campfires and smores.”

“Oh bummer! But kinda funny that he's happy about it.”

“Tell him it's time to call the "toe truck"”

“broken toes hurt real bad!!

it hurt just to put a sheet on it in the ER
nothing you can do for it other then tape it up.
glad it is not broken

I wanted to murder tree when I broke mine, all entire time we were in the hospital he sang.....and this little piggy went weeeeweee all the way to the hospital!”

“LMAO!!!!!!! you think a toe is bad, try breaking your back and a few ribs...or an ankle :D or the 15 other bones i've broken LOL”

“When it looks like this?

”

“That's probably from kickin' Liberals' boney asses!”

““That's probably from kickin' Liberals' boney asses!”

Sorry aero but this is one of the most insulting things you've ever said to me. How low and base do you think I am? Do you think I am this damn dumb to resort to violence and kicking people in the ass simply for their political beliefs? Oh for crying out loud...























Every good conservative knows ya go for the groin. It's much more effective and it's softer. LOL!”

“LOL! I usually use my knee!”

“Ewwww, that's disgusting!!!”

“No kidding! I hope he washes his knee after having it in someone's groin.”

“LOL

Hey, how the heck are ya, Nigal, love child of Gilligan and Jaws?”