Case Study - Burst-Type Fracture

May 2020

This patient was struck heavily on her 2nd toe by a dropped jar of olives. Her X-ray shows a simple burst-type fracture of the bony 'tuft' at the tip of her toe - a very safe fracture that usually heals with or without immobilisation. To complicate matters, the jar also cause a degloving type of injury to the soft tissues at the tip of the toe. The flesh was crushed and split, and needed to be protected from movement and pressure while it healed.

We fitted her with a customised thermoplastic splint which wraps around her mid-foot for stability, and extends under and beyond the toes to ensure she can't stub or jar the injury site. Lots of rest with the foot elevated, and the toe is healing beautifully!