Buddy tape (bandaging the injured finger with the finger next to it) is a very useful and inexpensive method of treating sprains, dislocations, and fractures of the toes and hands. Buddy tape is usually performed by health professionals, such as sports doctors, physiotherapists, pediatricians and chiropractors, but it can also be easily learned at home. If done correctly, buddy tape will support, protect, and help straighten injured joints. However, this method sometimes also has some complications, such as reduced blood supply, infection, and reduced joint movement.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Applying Buddy Tape to the Injured Toe
Step 1. Identify the injured toe
Toes are very susceptible to injury and can even break if hit by a blunt object, for example when tripping over furniture or kicking sports equipment. In most of the cases, the injured finger can be clearly seen. However, sometimes the toe needs to be carefully examined to understand the injury better. Symptoms of a mild to moderate injury include redness, swelling, inflammation, pain in one spot, bruising, reduced movement, and possibly a slight bend if the toe is broken or dislocated. The little toe and the big toe are injured more often than the other toes.
- Buddy tape can be applied to most foot injuries, including stress and minor (hairline) fractures. However, more serious fractures require a cast or surgery.
- Hairline fractures, bone chips, contusions (contusions), and joint sprains are not classified as serious injuries. However, a severely crushed toe (compound and bleeding) or a compound shear fracture (aka displaced compound fracture, which is a fracture with bleeding and part of the finger bone sticking through the skin) should seek immediate medical attention, especially if the injury is to the big toe.
Step 2. Determine the toe to be bandaged along with the injured finger
After determining the injured toe, you need to decide which toe will support it. In general, the finger of support should be a finger that is long and in thickness close to the injured finger. If it's your index finger that's injured, it's easier to bandage it together with your middle toe because it's about the same size and length, instead of the much larger big toe. Furthermore, the thumb is required to "tip" every time a step so it should not be wrapped with the injured finger. In addition, make sure that the supporting finger is not injured as wrapping two injured fingers together will make the situation worse. In such situations, it is best to put the injured toe in a cast or use compression boots.
- If your ring toe is injured, wrap it with your middle or little finger as they are about the same size and length.
- Do not apply buddy tape if you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease because any blockage of blood flow from a toe bandage increases the risk of necrosis (tissue death).
Step 3. Wrap both toes, but not too tightly
Once you've decided on the toe to wrap, take a medical or surgical bandage and wrap the injured finger with the supporting finger in a figure eight pattern, if possible, for stability. Be careful not to bandage too tightly as you can increase the swelling and even cut off blood flow to the finger. Place cotton gauze between your fingers to prevent abrasion and/or blistering of the skin.
- Don't use so much bandage that your foot doesn't fit into the shoe. What's more, the finger can overheat and perspire if it is wrapped in too much of a bandage.
- You can use medical/surgical tape, surgical paper tape, adhesive bandage, electrical tape, small Velcro bandage, and rubber bandage to wrap your finger.
- For added support, especially for a dislocated toe, you can use a wooden or metal splint wrapped in plaster. You can use an ice cream stick, but make sure there are no sharp edges or wood chips that can penetrate the skin.
Step 4. Change the plaster after showering
If your toe was bandaged by a doctor or other medical professional, they are likely to use a waterproof plaster that can be taken in the shower at least once. However, you should know how to re-wrap buddy tape so you can check for signs of skin irritation or infection. Abrasion, blisters, and calluses increase the risk of skin infections. Therefore, clean and dry the toes thoroughly before re-banding the toes. We recommend cleaning with rubbing alcohol to disinfect your toes.
- Symptoms of a skin infection include local swelling, redness, pain, twitching, and discharge of pus.
- The injured toe, depending on the severity, may need to be covered with buddy tape for up to four weeks for proper healing. Therefore, you will be very good at installing buddy tape because you have to do it repeatedly.
- If the injured toe is getting worse after the bandage, remove the buddy tape and put it back on. However, make sure the tape or bandage is now slightly looser.
Part 2 of 2: Understanding Potential Complications
Step 1. Monitor for signs of necrosis
As previously mentioned, necrosis is a type of tissue death due to lack of blood and oxygen supply. Injury to the toe, especially from a dislocation or fracture, may have damaged blood vessels. Therefore, you have to be very careful so that the buddy tape does not cut off the blood flow. When this happens, the toe will start to twitch and hurt and turn dark red, then dark blue. Most tissues can survive without oxygen for a maximum of 2 hours, but you should check your buddy tape every hour to make sure your finger is getting enough blood.
- People with diabetes cannot feel their fingers and toes very well and tend to have poor blood flow. Therefore, diabetics should not apply buddy tape.
- If necrosis occurs in the toes, amputation surgery is required to remove the dead tissue so that the infection does not spread to the entire sole and foot.
- If you have an open compound fracture, your doctor may recommend two weeks of oral antibiotics to reduce bacterial infection.
Step 2. Do not bandage a badly injured toe
While it can treat most finger injuries, there are some injuries that buddy tape can't treat. When the finger is completely crushed and crushed (also known as a crush fracture) or fractured until the bone is so bent and sticking through the skin (also known as a compound fracture), buddy tape will not help. You should visit the ER immediately for emergency treatment and most likely surgery.
- Common symptoms of a broken toe include: intense sharp pain, swelling, stiffness, and usually bruising from internal bleeding. You will find it difficult to walk, and running or jumping is impossible without severe pain.
- A broken toe can also be associated with conditions that weaken the bones, such as bone cancer, bone infections, osteoporosis, or chronic diabetes.
Step 3. Protect your toes so the injury doesn't get worse
Injured toes become more susceptible to injury and other disorders. Therefore, wear shoes that are comfortable and protect the soles of your feet as long as you are wearing the buddy tape (about 6 weeks). Choose shoes with closed toes that fit snugly on your feet while still leaving room for your toes, especially those that are wrapped in tape to prevent swelling. Shoes with hard, well-supported and sturdy soles are ideal for protecting your feet. Therefore, do not wear sandals or slip-in shoes. Also, don't wear high heels for several months after the injury, as these shoes put a lot of pressure on your toes and impede blood flow.
- You can use open-toed sandals if the swelling is severe enough. However, remember that these sandals do not protect your fingers so be careful when wearing them.
- If you work on a construction site, or as a firefighter, police, or landscaper, try wearing metal-toed shoes for added protection until your toe is fully healed.
Tips
- For most injuries, buddy tape is the ideal way to treat the injury. However, don't forget to lift and apply cold compresses to the injured leg to reduce inflammation and pain.
- You don't need to be completely still if you have a toe injury. However, do not do activities that put a strain on your legs, such as swimming, biking, or heavy lifting.
