How to distinguish a bruised little toe from a fracture? A fracture is a violation of the integrity of a skeletal bone under the influence of force, while a bruise is a closed tissue injury without disrupting its structure.
In uncomplicated cases, a bruise can be distinguished from a fracture by the characteristic signs of these injuries.
Very often, a fracture of the little finger without displacement occurs without pronounced symptoms, so the patient ignores the pain and does not pay enough attention to the injury. The consequence of such an attitude may be bone deformation, malunion, osteomyelitis or the appearance of a false joint.
The easiest way, as recommended by doctors
According to doctors, the most common and at the same time frequently used method is tapping. If such a test is carried out correctly, in most cases it is possible to distinguish a severe bruise of the little finger from a closed fracture. To do this, you need to tap the top of your finger in the direction of its base.
If the finger is broken, then the pain will be clearly defined in the place where the bone is deformed. If the bone is not damaged, then with axial tapping, pain at the site of the bruise will not be felt.
Such a test cannot be performed if there is a suspicion of a displaced fracture or damage to the joint, since this can lead to migration of bone fragments, which can lead to the development of serious complications.
Injury Prevention
Damage can be prevented by adhering to the following rules:
- Proper balanced nutrition, enriched with minerals and vitamins to strengthen the bone structure.
- Moderate physical activity.
- When training, use protective equipment.
- Wearing shoes according to the season.
- In winter, you should try to walk on sand-strewn paths.
- Compliance with safety rules at work and at home.
- See a doctor for help in a timely manner.
Damage to the little finger is a condition that requires accurate diagnosis to determine the nature of the injury and develop a treatment regimen. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, the illness will go away faster and the person will be able to return to their normal rhythm of life.
How to distinguish a fracture from a bruise
Differences in the main symptoms:
| Symptom | Fracture | Injury |
| Pain | When bones are damaged, the patient experiences maximum pain at the time of injury, when the bone itself is damaged. Later, due to the development of bleeding, swelling and inflammation, the pain becomes aching, dull, and can spread to the entire foot, but practically does not disappear. Painful sensations persist for a long time | When a finger is bruised, the pain is initially quite severe, then it subsides and after a few hours (after soft tissue swelling develops) it returns and becomes aching. The pain intensifies slightly when walking. The pain subsides within a few days |
| Damage site color | As a result of vascular damage when the little finger is fractured, in most cases the finger becomes bluish and swells. Hematoma persists for a long period | A minor injury may result in redness of the skin, while a serious injury may cause the finger to turn purple and, in some cases, even cause the nail to be torn off. |
| Finger mobility | With fractures, finger movement is limited for a long period. The position of the little finger when the muscles are in a relaxed state may not coincide with its forced position. Often the patient tries to support the finger in an uncomfortable position in order to reduce pain | Due to severe pain and swelling, finger movement is limited. For bruises, as soon as the pain goes away and the swelling decreases, the person begins to move his finger |
Possible consequences
As with any other injury, a fracture can cause complications. If a person has injured his little finger, he may experience a hematoma under the nail, arthrosis, and may also experience pain after the end of treatment. There may be discomfort while walking, as well as displacement of the finger.
Most people hope that the bruise will go away on its own, so they do not consult a doctor. But they don’t help their little finger either. This can lead to negative consequences.
Complications after bruising the little finger:
- Subungual hematoma. The little finger is a small finger, so when a bruise occurs, the nail is usually damaged. Hemorrhage occurs under the nail plate. The finger feels full, pulsating from the blood accumulated under the nail.
- Post-traumatic arthrosis of the finger joints. Occurs after some time, symptoms include pain when stepping on the foot, swelling of the little toe.
- Finger fracture. It wasn't a bruise. It was not diagnosed in time because the victim did not go to a traumatologist. The fracture healed, but incorrectly, since conditions for proper healing and restoration were not provided. In the future, the victim will feel pain in the area of the little finger, the gait may change, and in severe cases, lameness is possible.
Treatment for a bruise is not that complicated. It must be carried out competently and in a timely manner, otherwise the consequences of the injury will last a lifetime.
Conclusion
Any injury brings pain. It is not difficult to get a bruised little finger. This often happens when a person is in a hurry and hits his foot on a sofa or bed. This kind of damage also occurs when playing football without special shoes. If someone steps on their foot, the other toes will endure, but the smallest toe will be injured.
Any injury, even if it seems minor at first glance, should receive adequate treatment. Paying attention to your body is a guarantee of good health for many years.
Symptoms of a fracture
Symptoms of a fracture are classified according to the degree of reliability. Possible signs of bone damage in both the arm and leg include:
- pain in the area of injury (if the little finger is fractured, it remains tolerable);
- redness of the skin and swelling of soft tissues;
- forced position of the little finger;
- local hyperthermia (increased body temperature in the area of injury);
- decrease or disappearance of finger movements;
- the appearance of sharp pain when tapping the end of the finger.
There are also reliable signs indicating that the injury caused damage to the bones of the little finger:
- pathological mobility of the little finger;
- shortening of the injured finger;
- obvious deformation of the bone, which is determined visually even in the photo;
- a bone defect that is detected by palpation.
Possible complications
If medical care is not provided on time or is neglected, injuries can trigger the development of various complications:
- Abnormal bone fusion;
- Formation of a false phalanx;
- The occurrence of purulent processes in inflamed tissues. Often occurs with open fractures as a result of infection in diseased tissue.
In rare cases, a bloodstream infection may develop. However, most complications can be prevented or eliminated by seeking timely medical attention.
Diagnostics
The most important thing in diagnosing this type of fracture is an x-ray of the foot. X-rays are performed in one or two projections. It is possible to detect a violation of bone integrity in the image in 95–99% of cases. X-rays make it possible not only to identify a fracture, but also to determine the position of bone fragments, which subsequently allows you to choose treatment tactics.
An X-ray of the foot is usually sufficient to confirm the diagnosis.
When the bones or soft tissues of the little finger are damaged, methods such as computed tomography are not used in practice, since all the necessary data can be obtained using x-rays. However, the cost of the procedures differs significantly.
Classification
According to the classification, all fractures are divided into several types; we will describe the main ones:
- Traumatic - occur as a result of a strong mechanical shock to a bone that was previously unchanged and absolutely healthy.
- Pathological - when a fracture can occur as a result of a weak blow, but due to a pathological process in the bone itself, the bone becomes very fragile.
- Open - such fractures are accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the skin, rupture of soft tissue, which is often complicated by bleeding and infection.
- Closed – preserving the integrity of the skin.
- Complete - which in turn are divided into two types: with displacement and without displacement of fragments.
- Incomplete – this includes cracks and breaks.
A bruise is damage to superficial tissues, sometimes organs, but without significant damage to their internal structure, although there are serious changes when it comes to brain contusion.
After all the above, we have an idea of what each of the definitions means. But any diagnosis consists of the characteristics of the clinical course of the injury, so first we will touch on the symptoms.
First aid
Both with bone damage and with a bruised little finger, the patient needs to know what to do and how to provide timely and effective assistance at home. First of all, you need to perform anesthesia, this will reduce pain and make it possible to carry out other manipulations.
Painkillers
For these purposes, use any medicines that relieve pain that can be found in the medicine cabinet (Analgin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesil). Take them in the standard dose indicated in the instructions. Almost any drug from this group should not be taken on an empty stomach.
You should not expect an immediate effect from taking the medicine. In most cases, pain will begin to subside within 20 to 30 minutes.
It is also necessary to remember that in severe bruises and fractures of the little finger it will not be possible to completely get rid of the pain; it will dull a little, but at the same time the patient will feel it.
Exposure to cold
A good effect for both bruises and damage to the bones of the little finger is observed when using cold. It inactivates nerve receptors for a short period and slows down the transmission of pain impulses to the brain, thereby reducing pain. In addition, this procedure reduces the formation of hematoma and edema.
Ice should be applied to the injury site to relieve pain.
The best option is to apply a bag of crushed ice, as it takes the shape of a finger and provides the most intimate contact with the skin.
In order to avoid frostbite on the injured finger, the bag is removed every 5–10 minutes and reapplied after 2–3 minutes.
General recommendations
A person should move with emphasis on the heel so that the finger does not come into contact with hard surfaces, which will make it possible to reduce pain. Ideally, the patient should be seated or positioned with the leg slightly elevated. This will improve the flow of blood from the injury site, resulting in a slight reduction in pain and swelling.
It is recommended to give the leg a slightly elevated position
If there is a severe bruise and suspected bone damage, you should immediately seek advice from a traumatologist. If the integrity of the bone is compromised, and there is a suspicion of displacement of bone fragments, immobilization will be performed.
Traditional medicine recipes
In some cases, after consultation with your doctor, you can use traditional methods. There are many recipes that will relieve symptoms and also improve blood circulation. To do the latter, you need to use special heating. You can use baths for such purposes with the addition of herbs in the form of wormwood, chamomile and St. John's wort.
One good remedy is burdock roots. They need to be washed and dried. Next, you need to pour in olive or sunflower oil and let it brew for about a day. It should be heated over low heat for fifteen minutes; it should not be brought to a boil. It is recommended to store this decoction away from the sun, preferably in a glass container.
The second good recipe is to use ammonia, camphor and laundry soap. The latter must be specially rubbed. Next, you need to add turpentine to the mixture, as well as lamp oil. All that remains is to stir well. All these solutions must be applied to the finger and wait for relief. A few days after injury, you can apply compresses and treatments. This therapy should not be performed for more than two weeks.
In order to do a similar procedure, you can use several recipes. For example, you can mix vegetable oil, vinegar and boiled water. The proportions should be equal. Next you need to take oak bark and daisies and pour boiling water over them. In this case, one tablespoon of plants should equal 200 milliliters of boiling water.
- Onion. A proven remedy is onions with sugar. One onion is grated, the excess juice is squeezed out, mixed with a tablespoon of sugar, and applied to the sore spot. The compress is tied with a bandage or cloth and left for at least 2 hours. It is better to carry out such procedures twice a day. To obtain a lasting positive result, you need to make about 6 compresses.
- Bodyaga. Works great on hematomas. It can be bought at a pharmacy. Following the instructions, apply to bruises; they will soon disappear.
- Plantain leaves relieve swelling and help soft tissues recover. It is necessary to squeeze out the juice, soak a napkin in it, and apply it to the damaged area. Replace it with a fresh one when dry. This must be done for at least two days.
- Wormwood perfectly disinfects the site of injury, tones small blood vessels, and stimulates recovery. You need to make a paste from it, mash it so that it gives more juice. Apply this paste to the damaged area; it is better to wrap it around your entire little finger. When the wormwood dries, remove it. You can repeat this several times a day until a positive effect appears.
When the nail plate is injured due to injury, an iodine mesh is applied to it.
Treatment
In order to reduce pain, creams or gels based on diclofenac, ketorolac, nimesulide or indomethacin are used. They are applied to the damaged area 2-3 times a day, according to the instructions.
For treatment, external agents are used, for example Heparin ointment.
You can reduce swelling and get rid of hematoma using drugs based on heparin, troxerutin or horse chestnut. They improve blood circulation in the area of damage, restore capillaries and reduce pain.
How long does it take to treat a bruise or fusion of the bones of the little finger?
The recovery period depends on the severity of the injury. For mild bruises, symptoms disappear within 4–7 days. Severe soft tissue injuries or bone fractures are treated for 2–3 weeks.
For a displaced fracture, in the most favorable cases, the recovery period will be 3–4 weeks. For comminuted fractures, this period increases to 6 weeks.
The rate of tissue regeneration depends on the age of the patient. Children and adolescents heal faster than older people. From the age of 40, the rate of regeneration decreases significantly with each passing year.
Rehabilitation (duration)
Rehabilitation is carried out only after complete healing of the broken bone. It includes the following actions and procedures:
- Physiotherapy. These could be sessions of electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, quartz treatment;
- Massotherapy;
- Visit to the physical therapy room (PT).
Rehabilitation after a fracture of the little finger includes therapeutic massage.
What to do after a fracture of the little toe is decided by the doctor, based on the nature of the injury and the duration of treatment. The foot muscles have a greater need to regain their function because they have been limited in movement for a long time and have become less flexible. A noticeable improvement in the condition of muscle tissue occurs after 5-7 sessions of the chosen therapeutic course. The duration of rehabilitation depends on the characteristics of the human body. Typically, return to full fitness occurs after 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation treatment.