From the Guidelines
Most baby toe fractures do not require a boot cast. These small toe fractures typically heal well with conservative treatment including rest, ice, elevation, and over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6 hours as needed for pain) 1. You can "buddy tape" the injured toe to the adjacent toe using medical tape with gauze between the toes to prevent skin irritation, which provides stability while healing occurs. Wear wide, comfortable shoes that don't put pressure on the toe for 4-6 weeks. However, if the fracture is severely displaced (bone fragments are significantly out of alignment), open (bone has broken through skin), or involves multiple bones, medical evaluation is necessary and a walking boot might be recommended. Some key points to consider when treating baby toe fractures include:
- The diagnosis is based on a history of trauma and focal pain on palpation and is confirmed with radiographic studies 1
- Simple immobilization is appropriate when fracture fragments are small, nonarticular; or minimally displaced 1
- Most baby toe fractures heal within 4-6 weeks
- The baby toe bears minimal weight and has limited functional importance compared to other toes, and the surrounding tissues provide adequate support for proper healing in most cases.
From the Research
Fractures of Baby Toe Treatment
- The provided studies do not directly address the treatment of fractures of the baby toe, specifically whether a boot cast is required.
- The studies primarily focus on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in open fractures, including the type and duration of antibiotic treatment 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- There is no mention of the treatment of closed fractures, such as those that may occur in the baby toe, or the use of boot casts in these studies.
- Therefore, there is no evidence to support or refute the use of a boot cast for fractures of the baby toe based on the provided studies.