Oh No! I broke my toe!

Broken Toes

Oh No! I broke my Toe!

 

Many patients present to the office with suspected broken toes. Any toe can be broken but in my professional experience, the most commonly broken toes are the 4th or the 5th.  I'm not sure if it is because they are generally the smallest and therefore easier to break. But most patients state that they are the most bumped toes in the middle of the night.

Broken toes should not be confused with broken metatarsals which are the long bones of the foot that sit behind the toes.

 

 

Metatarsals

 

Toe

A broken toe is relatively quick to heal in a healthy patient. The standard protocol is rest, ice, compression and elevation. I also like to buddy splint the toes together (with a guaze in between prevent sweating between the toes, as shown in Pic 1), and the use of an offloading shoe.

There are times when a broken toe is very serious and that it when there is an open fracture (break in the skin). This type of fracture pushes the break through the skin which can allow bacteria to penetrate into the body.
This type of fracture usually requires a Tetanus shot, thorough cleaning of the wound, possible stitches (depending on the time frame of when the injury occurred and time of treatment) or surgical management.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

Many patients present to the office with pain in the heels. Most patients describe it as a stabbing sensation that is worse in the morning and usually begins to improve as they walk around. They also state that the symptoms will return if they sit for an extended period of time.

Although I tell most of my patients that all heel pain isn't Plantar Fasciitis, majority of the time, it is. That being said though, when patients present to the office, I still get x-rays to help rule out a fracture, Tarsal Tunnel, or plantar fibromas.
Some patients present to the office with pain in the feet and heels which is originating from the back. So I always try to perform a thorough physical examination.

Q: So what is Plantar Fasciitis?
A: It is pain and inflammation of the Plantar Fascia

Q: What is a plantar fascia?
A: The plantar fascia is a band of ligaments that connects your heel bone to your toes. It helps to support the arch of your foot. If you strain the plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, inflamed and irritated. This often leads to pain of your heel bone or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.

Q: How did I get this?
A: There are numerous reasons
-You have flat feet which cause the foot to roll inward toward the midline of the body when you walk. This is know as excessive pronation.
-You have high arches
-You are overweight
-Your shoes are worn out or don't fit well
-You spend large periods of time walking, standing or running on hard or uneven surfaces
-Your Achilles tendon or calf muscles are too tight

Q: How can I make this pain better?
A: There are several treatment options that I discuss with my patients
-Stretching with a towel or resistance band or stretching the toes against a hard surface such as a wall several times per day
-A steroid injection. I usually mix this injection with a local anesthetic to reduce pain. The steroid is to reduce inflammation, which also helps to relieve pain as well.
-Referral to physical therapy. There are several modalities that can be used to reduce the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis and these usually help a lot of people
-Orthotics. The use of orthotics can help reduce the painful symptoms. The must be worn in a pair of good supportive shoes. Unfortunately, flip flops are not the type of shoes that orthotics can be worn in (#1 question asked by patients).
The cost of orthotics may not be covered by some insurance plans.
-Surgical management. I tell patients that this is the last resort. It is important to try to exhaust all conservative methods first before undergoing surgery.

Fun fact: There is 2 I's in Fasciitis. Although most people write it with only 1.

Gangrene of the lower extremity

Gangrene of the Lower extremity

Gangrene has both a Latin and Greek  origin which means "putrefaction" of tissues" and has no connection to the color green which is commonly thought.

Gangrene is a very serious condition that can be potentially life threatening. Gangrene usually arises from chronic conditions such as Diabetes and poor circulation or many years of smoking.

Types:
Wet: Occurs in moist areas such as the mouth, bowel, lungs, cervix, and vulva.
Dry: Usually arises due to a blockage of the arteries of the lower extremity. The appearance is purple or black with a sunken/ dried look
Gas: Caused by a bacteria called Clostridium Perfringens and it is a medical emergency because it can spread very quickly through the tissues of the body leading to Septecemia and toxemia.
Necrotizing Fascitiis: Gangrene of the deep layers of the tissue

Treatment options vary but usually entail surgical cleaning of the wound (debridement) , wound care, hyperbaric therapy, maggot therapy and antibiotic therapy, although amputation is necessary in most cases.