A broken toe is a common injury that is most often caused by a trauma or injury. Most broken toes heal well, usually within four to six weeks. In some cases, though rare, a broken toe may become infected or more susceptible to osteoarthritis in the future.
Symptoms
Possible signs and symptoms of a broken toe may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Bruising
- Discoloration
- Difficulty walking
Causes
In most cases, a broken toe is caused when an individual drops a heavy object on their foot or stubs their toe.
Complications
Depending on the severity of the fracture, possible complications of a broken toe may include:
- Infection: If the skin is ripped near the injured toe, risk of developing an infection is high
- Osteoarthritis. A type of arthritis that is most likely to occur when the fracture extends into one of the toe joints.
- Deformity
