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Causes & Health Information
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Some Basics...
- There are many ways that people can injure their toes.
- There are also many types of toe injuries. There are bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles in the toes. These can all be injured.
- A person with diabetes who gets injured must be careful and watchful. Wounds heal slower and have a greater chance of getting infected.
- Treatment depends on the type of injury.
Types of Injuries
- Abrasion: This is the medical term for scraped skin. This happens when an injury scrapes off the top layer of the skin. Pain is usually mild. This can usually be treated at home.
- Contusion: This is the medical term for bruise. It is caused by a direct blow to the skin and muscles. The skin is not broken, there is no cut. The bruised skin may first look red, then purple, and finally orange-yellow. These skin color changes are from blood that leaked from tiny torn blood vessels in the bruised area. The skin may also be swollen. Pain is usually mild to moderate. Bruises are tender to touch. Most often this can be treated at home.
- Cut - Superficial: Superficial cuts (scratches) only extend partially through the skin and rarely become infected. A scratch is an injury to the skin made by a sharp edge. For example, scratches can be caused by fingernails, a sharp nail, a piece of metal, or a branch of a tree or bush. A paper cut is a scratch from the edge of a piece of paper. This can usually be treated at home.
- Cut - Deep: Deep cuts (lacerations) go through the skin. A laceration is caused by cutting the skin with the sharp edge of an object. Lacerations longer than 1/2 inch (12 mm) usually need sutures.
- Dislocation: This is when a bone comes out of the joint. The joint always looks crooked or deformed. The pain can be moderate to severe. A person with this problem should go to the doctor right away. A doctor will treat this by pulling the finger bone back into the joint socket.
- Fracture: This is the medical term for a broken bone. It means the same thing as a break or crack in the bone. The pain is severe and there is often marked swelling. The type of treatment needed depends on the type of fracture. Usually a person with a broken toe just needs buddy taping. This is done by gently taping the injured toe to the toe next to it. A person with a bad fracture may need surgery.
- Sprain (Jammed Toe): A sprain is the medical term used when ligaments are torn or over-stretched. Ligaments are the bands of tissue that connect bones to each other. For example, this can happen when a person is walking and "stubs" or "jams his or her toe. Pain and swelling can range from mild to severe. Minor sprains heal themselves with time and rest. Usually a person with a toe sprain just needs buddy taping. This is done by gently taping the injured toe to the toe next to it.
- Smashed or Crushed Toe: This most often results from a heavy object falling on the toe. Most often, the fingertip gets a few cuts, a blood blister, or a bruise. Sometimes the nail is damaged. Rarely, the toe bones can get broken.
- Subungual Hematoma: This is the medical term for blood under the toenail. It can happen when a heavy object like rock is dropped on the toe. The more blood under the nail, the more it hurts. If the pain is severe, the pressure may need to be released to help the pain go away. This is done by putting a small hole through the nail. A rule of thumb is that this may be needed if blood is under more than half of the nail. The fingernail sometimes falls off after this type of injury. If it does, a new nail will grow back in 6 to 12 weeks.
Pain Scale
- None: No pain. Pain score is 0 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- Mild: The pain does not keep you from work, school, or other normal activities. Pain score is 1-3 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- Moderate: The pain keeps you from working or going to school. It wakes you up from sleep. Pain score is 4-7 on a scale of 0 to 10.
- Severe: The pain is very bad. It may be worse than any pain you have had before. It keeps you from doing any normal activities. Pain score is 8-10 on a scale of 0 to 10.
When Are Stitches Needed?
- Any cut that is split open or gaping most likely needs stitches. Cuts longer than 1/2 inch (12mm) most often need stitches.
- A doctor should look at any open wound that may need stitches. A doctor should be seen regardless of the time passed since the injury.
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