The little finger is the smallest finger on the foot and its outward position makes it vulnerable to injury from falling, tripping over something, or falling on an object. A broken little toe may appear swollen and bruised, and can be painful when walking. Most broken little feet heal on their own within 6 weeks and don't require any medical attention other than an examination to make sure the little finger isn't seriously fractured. You should immediately visit the ER if there is a little bone sticking through the skin of the little finger or the finger is pointing in the wrong direction.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Treating Injury Immediately
Step 1. Remove shoes and socks, if needed
Caring for a broken pinky in the first 24 hours is very important to prevent infection or swelling too much. Remove all objects that are blocking your pinky, including shoes and socks.
Once the toe is visible, check to make sure that no bone has penetrated the skin. Watch carefully to make sure that even if the toe is broken, the toe is still pointing in the right direction, and is not bluish or numb to touch. All of the signs above indicate that toes can be treated at home
Step 2. Raise the injured leg above waist level
Sit comfortably on a stable surface, resting your feet on a pile of pillows or a chair. Raise the injured leg to above waist level to reduce swelling in the little finger.
- Elevating the injured leg will also help reduce pain from a broken little finger.
- Try to keep the leg elevated as long as possible, even after the first 24 hours. Resting and elevating the leg will help heal the little finger. If your feet feel cold, use a light blanket to cover your feet like a tent so they don't put pressure on the broken toe.
Step 3. Apply ice for 10-20 minutes
For the first 24 hours post-injury, it's best to cool the toe with ice to relieve swelling and pain. Wrap the ice in a towel and place it on your pinky for 20 minutes once every hour.
- You can also wrap a towel in a bag of frozen peas or corn and use it like an ice pack.
- Do not place the ice pack on your pinky for more than 20 minutes at a time and do not apply the ice directly to the skin as this can exacerbate the injury.
Step 4. Take pain medication
Take ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Panadol), or naproxen for pain relief. Follow the dosage guidelines on the drug label.
- Aspirin should not be given to children under 18 years of age.
- Do not take pain medication if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a bleeding disorder, such as an ulcer.
Part 2 of 3: Doing Home Care
Step 1. Splint the little finger with the ring finger
After 24 hours, the swelling in the toes should have reduced if the foot was raised and cooled properly. Now, you can apply buddy tape to the broken pinky to help stabilize it.
- Slip a cotton ball between the ring toe and little toe of the broken leg. Wrap the little finger with a medical bandage, then bandage the little finger with the finger next to it. Make sure the tape wraps around the finger tightly enough without cutting off blood flow to the little finger. Buddy tape only needs to provide support to the broken finger.
- Cotton swabs and bandages need to be changed once a day to keep the area clean and stable.
Step 2. Try not to wear shoes or only wear open-toed footwear
You need to follow these recommendations until the swelling subsides and the toe begins to heal. Once the swelling is gone, wear comfortable, soild-soled shoes to protect your toes.
Step 3. Try walking again once the finger has started to heal
Once you are able to wear your shoes comfortably without irritating your injured little finger, you can start trying to walk. Start slowly and walk only briefly so you don't put too much pressure on the recovering finger. Your toes may feel sore or stiff when you walk, but this will go away as the toes stretch and get stronger.
- After a walk, it's a good idea to check your toes for swelling. If they seem swollen or irritated, chill them with ice for 20 minutes every hour and elevate your feet.
- Most toes will heal in 4-8 weeks with good care.
Part 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Care
Step 1. See a doctor if the broken finger looks very severe and is very painful
You should see a doctor immediately if your toe is numb for a period of time or if it continues to tingle. You should also see a doctor if your toe appears broken at an odd angle and there are open sores and bleeding on the toe.
You should seek medical attention if your little finger doesn't heal well within 1-2 weeks and it's still very swollen and painful
Step 2. Let the doctor examine the condition of your little finger
The doctor will suggest an X-ray scan of the little foot to confirm the condition. The doctor will then anesthetize the little finger with a local anesthetic and straighten the bone through the skin.
If there is blood trapped behind the nail, the doctor can drain the blood by making a small hole in the nail or removing the nail
Step 3. Discuss pinkie surgery options if the injury is severe
Depending on the severity of the fracture, the finger may need surgery. Special pins or screws will be inserted into the broken bone to hold it still while it heals.
You may also need a cast to support the toe. You may also be asked to use crutches so that you can walk without straining your injured little finger and your leg will heal properly
Step 4. Get antibiotics, if needed
If the bone penetrates the skin (also known as an open fracture), the risk of infection is high. You will need to clean the wound regularly and may be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection.
