A dislocated toe happens when a there is a complete separation of the bones in a joint, and the soft tissues and ligaments that hold the joint together are dislodged from their normal location. A dislocation can occur in conjunction with a fracture, or a dislocation can happen on its own, and a toe can either be partially or fully dislocated. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at toe dislocation injuries and how they are typically treated.
Types Of Toe Dislocations
Since your toe is not one long bone, but rather a combination of bones connected by joints, it’s possible to dislocate your toe in different locations. Here’s a look at the three areas where a toe dislocation may occur:
- Distal Interphalangeal Joint (the joint closest to the tip of your toe).
- Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (the joint in the middle of the toe).
- Metatarsophalangeal Joint (the joint that connects your foot to the toe).
Toe dislocations typically occur as a result of significant trauma to the toe. If you stub your toe on the kitchen counter or get stepped on during a soccer game, it’s possible that you knocked the bone out of its normal positioning. Chronic trauma can also increase your risk of a toe dislocation, like if you’re training for a marathon and increase your distance too quickly. Structural issues, genetic foot malformations and progressive degeneration can also increase your risk of suffering a toe dislocation. For example, untreated rheumatoid arthritis and hammertoes can affect the health of the toe joint and put you at risk of a future dislocation.
If your toe is hurting after acute or chronic stress, look for the signs of a dislocation, which include:
- Pain
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Difficulty moving
- Numbness
- Visible deformity or crooked appearance
Because many of the symptoms of a dislocated toe mimic the symptoms of a fracture, it’s oftentimes a good idea to have your foot assessed by a doctor if you are hoping to better understand what you’re dealing with.
Diagnosing And Treating Toe Dislocations
If you suspect that you have dislocated your toe, don’t try to pop it back into the right position on your own, as attempting this without really understanding the mechanism of injury can lead to more tissue damage. Instead, stabilize the area and connect with a doctor or foot specialist. They’ll conduct a physical exam and order an X-ray to get a better idea of the positioning of the bones in your foot. From there, they will walk you through your treatment options.
In most instances, toe dislocations can be managed with non-operative methods. Oftentimes the doctor will administer a local anesthetic before carefully repositioning the toe bones with manual adjustments. Once realigned, you’ll likely be told to take it easy for a short period of time and to participate in a few weeks of physical therapy to strengthen the soft tissues that were damaged during the dislocation.
If you are dealing with a severe fracture that is unlikely to be repositioned correctly or heal as expected without surgery, your doctor may recommend an operation. This involves making a small incision over the toe and using surgical techniques or hardware to realign the bones. The incision site is then closed, and patients follow a similar course of rehabilitation, with rest and physical therapy helping to protect and strengthen the recovering structure.