How to bandage the injured toe to the next toe

Bandaging the injured finger to the adjacent toe is a useful and simple method of treating a sprained, dislocated, or broken toe or finger. ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Usually this is done by sports medicine specialists, physical therapists, and chiropractors, but you can easily Easy to learn to do at home. If properly bandaged, it can support, protect, and realign joints. However, there are sometimes complications associated with bandaging the injured toe and the healed toe, such as decreased blood circulation, infection, and loss of joint mobility.

Table of Contents

Bandage the injured toe with the toe next to it

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Identify an injured toe. Toes are very easily injured, even broken, from blunt trauma, such as tripping over furniture or kicking sports equipment. It’s usually easy to spot an injured toe, but sometimes you need to examine the toes closely to understand the injury. Signs of mild to moderate injury include: redness, swelling, inflammation, local pain, bruising, reduced mobility, and possibly a slight crooked if the toe is dislocated or fractured. The thumb and little finger are more prone to injury and broken than other fingers. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Bandaging the injured finger with the adjacent finger can be used with most injuries, even fractures, although more severe fractures will require a cast or surgery. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
See your doctor immediately if your toe is crooked, painful, or swollen to the point of numbness.
Fractures, chipped bones, contusions (bruising) and sprains are not considered serious problems, but the toe is severely crushed (smashed and bleeds) or has an open fracture (bleeds and the bone pops out) skin) requires urgent medical intervention, especially when the big toe is involved.

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Identify which toes need bandages. Once you know which toe is injured, you will have to decide which toe to bandage it with. In general, you should try to bandage the fingers of approximately the same size – if the second finger is injured, it is easier to bandage the third finger than the thumb, since the two fingers are about the same size. Moreover, the thumb often has to be separated when walking, so it is not a good choice for joint bandages. In addition, you also need to make sure the joint toe is not injured, because two injured toes banded together will make the condition worse. In these cases, a cast or compression shoe may be a better option.

If your ring finger is injured, you should bandage it with your third finger instead of your little finger, as they are more similar in size.
Do not band together your toes if you have diabetes or coronary artery disease, as poor circulation caused by a tight bandage greatly increases the risk of gangrene (tissue death). ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Loosely bandage two toes together. Once you have determined that the two toes need to be bandaged together, get medical tape or surgical tape to loosely cover the injured finger with the uninjured finger, perhaps a figure 8 bandage to be sure. Remember not to bandage too tightly, or you will cause more swelling in the wound, and even block blood flow to the injured toe. ^{[5] X Research Source} Consider placing a cotton swab between your toes to prevent abrasions and/or blistering. The risk of infection is greatly increased if the skin is broken or blistered.

Don’t wrap so much bandages that you can’t even put your feet in the shoes. Furthermore, the thick layer of ice also leads to overheating and sweating.
You can use medical/surgical tape, self-adhesive elastic bandage, electrical tape, small Velcro patch, and elastic bandage. ^{[6] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}
To increase support for a dislocated toe, you can use a wooden or metal brace with a bandage. Ice cream sticks work well for toes, just be sure to check to make sure there are no sharp edges or splinter that could pierce the skin.

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Change dressings after bathing. If you were initially bandaged by a doctor or medical professional, they probably used a waterproof bandage, so you can shower without fear of getting in the water, at least once. As a general guideline, however, you need to re-bandage your toes after each foot wash so you can check for signs of skin irritation or infection. ^{[7] X Research Sources} Scratches, blisters, and calluses increase the risk of skin infection, so wash and dry your toes thoroughly before dressing. You can use alcohol wipes to disinfect.

Signs of a skin infection include swelling, redness, stinging, and discharge or pus.
Depending on the severity, the injured toe may need to be bandaged with the next toe for up to 4 weeks to heal, so you’ll learn to redress very well.
If the injured toe hurts more after the dressing, you need to remove the bandage, and remember to wrap it a little looser.

Understanding potential complications

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Check for signs of necrosis. As mentioned above, necrosis is the death of tissue due to lack of blood circulation and oxygen. Injured toes, especially dislocated or broken bones, can be accompanied by vascular damage, so you will need to be very careful when dressing to avoid blocking blood flow to the toes. If the bandage is too tight, the toe will start to sting and turn dark red, then dark blue. ^{[8] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Most tissues can survive without oxygen for several hours (maximum), but it is imperative that you keep a close eye on your toes after the dressing is clear. about half an hour to make sure they get enough health.

People with diabetes have very poor sensation in their feet and toes, and their blood circulation is also poor. That’s why they should avoid dressing the injured toe on the next toe.
If your toes have gangrene, you’ll need to have surgery to remove the gangrene so the infection doesn’t spread to the rest of your foot or leg.
If you have an open fracture, your doctor may recommend a two-week course of preventive antibiotics to fight infection.

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Do not bandage a severely fractured toe. Although most types of toe injuries respond well to bandaging of the injured toe with the healthy toe, there are a few cases that fall outside this range. When the toes are crushed and broken (fractures) or broken to the point where the bones are completely displaced and pierced through the skin (also known as open fractures), the joint banding of the toes will not work at all. . Instead, you need to get to the emergency room quickly for medical care and possibly surgery.

Common symptoms of a broken toe include: Severe pain, swelling, stiffness, and often immediate bruising due to internal bleeding. Walking is difficult, and running or jumping is nearly impossible because of the excruciating pain. You may also see the toe being crooked in a different direction than usual.
Broken toes can be related to diseases that cause bone weakness, such as bone cancer, bone infections, osteoporosis, or diabetes. ^{[9] X Research Source}
The toe may not appear crooked even with a fracture. The only way to know if a toe is broken or sprained is with an X-ray, so you should see your doctor if you have a toe injury.

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Protect your toes to prevent further injury. Once the toe is injured, it is more susceptible to injury and other problems. Therefore, you need to wear comfortable and protective shoes while bandaging your toe (takes about 2-6 weeks). Choose closed-toe shoes that fit well, with room in the toe to allow room for bandages/gauze and swollen toes. Hard-soled, supportive, and definitely safest shoes. Avoid flip-flops and soft slippers. Absolutely do not wear high heels for at least a few months after the injury, because they constrict the toes and restrict blood circulation. ^{[10] X Research Source}

You can also wear open-toe sandals if your toes are too swollen, but don’t forget that these won’t protect your toes, so be careful.
If you’re a builder, firefighter, or police officer, consider wearing steel toe boots for added protection until your toe heals.

Advice

You don’t have to stop working completely with a toe injury, but you should choose activities that put less stress on your feet, such as swimming, biking, or lifting weights.
Banding the toe is effective for most toe injuries, but don’t forget to elevate and apply ice. Both therapies help reduce pain and inflammation.

Warning

See your doctor if you suspect a broken toe. Banding the toes is a good short-term solution for most types of toe injuries, but fractures always require medical attention.

Steps

Bandage the injured toe with the toe next to it

Understanding potential complications

Advice

Warning

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