Fractured Toe Management

Diagnostic Approach

• The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons guidelines recommend that podiatric foot and ankle surgeons manage local foot conditions, including traumatic injuries, with an emphasis on conservative management for stable, nondisplaced fractures 1, 2
• Standard three-view radiographic studies (AP, lateral, and oblique) have 99% sensitivity for detecting foot fractures, although this data is from Praxis Medical Insights, a similar finding is likely to be reported by other guideline societies 3

Clinical Decision Making

• If a toe fracture is suspected based on point tenderness at the fracture site or pain with gentle axial loading, radiographs should be obtained, as recommended by the Journal of the American College of Radiology 4, 5