Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 9/1/2007

Question
Hi.  I hope you are the right person to ask this question.  If not, I'm really sorry!  I know orthopedics has to do with bones, and yesterday, my mother fell down 6 flights of stairs and thinks she broke her big toe.  I have been reading on the internet, and see that the main home treatment for a toe break is to stay off it, keep it elevated, and keep ice on it.  But my question is, about "buddy-taping".  I read that taping can the broken toe to the next one can be harmful in some circumstances.  Is the broken big toe one of those?  Should she tape it to the second toe or not?  If not, what else should she do to help it heal besides rest, ice, and elevation?  BTW, she will go seek medical treatment at a doctor's office if it doesn't get better in the next few days-a week.  Thank you so much!

Answer
Hi Vanessa,

It will take 4-6wks to heal. So far you are doing everything correct, you may tape it to the next toe this will provide it with more protection and stability. I see no danger in doing this unless there are multiple fracture.

Getting it x-rayed is important as well. These injuries hurt a lot but don't pose much of a clinical threat to the patient once healed. Ultrasounding with therapeutic ultrasound will cut the healing time by more than a third. Taking glucosamine Sulfate with MSM is good to prevent osteoarthritis in the joint. Doing all these things should give a quick clinical outcome that everybody is pleased with.


Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com