So You Think a Broken Toe Isn't Serious?

So you think a broken toes is no big deal? Just last week I had a runner come in 6 months after breaking her 5th toe by kicking a shopping cart. She didn't have it x-rayed because in her words, "I didn't think there was anything you could do for a broken toe".

Here she was six months later because not only was she having a hard time fitting her still swollen toe in a high heeled shoe for work, but now it was bothering her in her running shoes. Pain when running will always bring a runner in the office!

What had happened is that she had an oblique fracture of her proximal phalanx which was displaced and healed in an abnormal position. In English, she broke her 5th toe and the bone healed crooked making a big lump that rubbed on her 4th toe causing a blister then a large corn in between the toes.

These types of corns known as "heloma molle" are very painful and can often get infected. In a diabetic or other patients with poor immune systems, these can even lead to a toe amputation! In my runner's case, she was treated conservatively with a silicone toe sleeve to pad it off until she had time to have an arthroplasty of the toe which is a surgery that removes part of the poorly healed bone and alleviates the rubbing. This surgery could have been prevented by seeking help earlier as soon as she broke her toe. 

Take home message: if you think you broke your toe, have it x-rayed and see your favorite podiatrist. They may tell you it is broken, but straight; or they may need to numb it up and pull it back into the correct position, so you can avoid surgery that will keep you laid up for weeks!


 

Got Painful Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown Toenails

Perhaps not the most glamorous injury, but ingrown toenails are easily one of the more common and painful foot problems seen in our Grapevine, Texas office. In fact, in a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association, they were listed in the top three with heel pain and blisters as the other most common complaints.

Also known as Onychocryptosis, there are a variety of ways an athlete could suffer from the problem. Excessive pressure on the outside of the great toe, stubbing or having a toe stepped on, tight socks and shoes, even improper trimming of your nails can cause ingrown toenails. Don’t forget the dreaded toenail fungus (Onychomycosis) which can cause an abnormally shaped nail that tends to get ingrown.

The pain isn't easy to deal with, as most athletes are usually always on their feet! With running and most other sports being a dynamic in nature, training and racing with an ingrown toenail can be incredibly painful. Soreness and sensitivity along the margins of the toenails may lead to infection (watery discharge, blood, pus). If infected, immediately visit a podiatrist.

If uninfected, treat the feet by soaking them in either salt or warm soapy water. Drying them thoroughly, applying a mild antiseptic solution, and bandaging the toe will make a difference.
However, if the athlete takes proper care of their feet, ingrown toenails can be certainly prevented. Make sure your shoes are long and wide enough. Don’t forget that socks come in sizes as well. Cut your nails straight across. Keep your toenail clipper clean. Don’t pick at them or try to perform bathroom surgery! And treat fungus as soon as it shows it’s ugly head!

For more info on infrown toenails, click here!

http://www.faant.com/library/avoid-bathroom-surgery-on-ingrown-toenails.cfm