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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

nonunion toe fracture

I broke my toe several months ago, pinky toe, by stubbing it. I buddy taped it, but it never seemed to heal correctly. I finally went to a podiatrist, and turns out it never healed at all.

My choice is do bone stimulation and try to get it to heal, or surgery, and remove the chunk of bone that broke off (it's fairly big actually, or looks it to me).

I'm leaning towards the surgery because it's a faster fix (and concern that if it didn't heal to begin with, it might not heal with stimulation, and then I'd be left with the surgery anyway). The idea of wearing this boot for a few months isn't appealing.

Thoughts?

Hi,
I guess I am just old fashioned, but if this was my toe, I would want to do all that I could to keep all parts intact.
Bone stimulation is a great modality and DOES work, particularly if it has only been several months.
Secondly, if it is a large piece of bone that has to removed you have to be concerned about the after affects as it will change the architect of your foot primarily by making your little toe even shorter. This then can create excessive shoe pressure on the fourth toe and depending on the types of shoes that you wear may create a constant painful corn on the fourth toe and that is never good.
Lastly, although I do not know exactly where the break is, your doctor could go in, clean out the fibrous union (nonunion) and put temporary pins in there to re-fuse the broken bone, which to me sounds like a better idea than having a large piece of bone removed.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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Jun 21, 2009
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Non-Union Toe Fracture
by: DJS

I ,too, have a non-union fracture of the small toe

I stubbed it in Novemberbband it is June and still broken. I am afraid that it will never heal.

I was given a bone stimulator to use at home for twenty minutes daily.

I am having trouble placing the disc of the bone stimulator in the correct place.

Walking is painful. I have not been able to get into a regular shoe in months and my narrow foot can move around in a "surgical shoe" that I was given.
My Dr.wants me to have a stiff sole added to my own shoe- but I can't get into my own shoes !

I have noticed that my toes are curled on the same foot and my Dr. says it is "Hammertoes".
I do not have this on the other foot and do not remember having this prior to the toe fracture.

could this be related?

how are hammertoes treated?

can vitamins or supplements help with bone healing ?

thank you for your time.

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Evansville, IA

Dear Marc

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Albany, NY

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Colorado

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

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Canada

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Wisconsin

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

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Florida

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Robert

New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

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Lenoir, NC

Thank you so much Doc for a quick and thorough response!

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Bellevue, WA

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nonunion toe fracture

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