Two other types of metatarsal fractures may also cause pain on the outside of your foot, including your pinky toe. This includes:. When you bang your toe or stretch it too far backward, you can separate one pinky toe bone from another. This is called a dislocated toe. Your pinky and all the other toes, with the exception of your big toe, have 3 bones. Dislocation can occur at any of these joints. This is known as subluxation. A full dislocation is when the bone is intact but completely out of its normal position.
Your doctor will examine your toe to feel for a dislocation. They may take an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis. Sometimes other tests may be necessary to check if you have damage to your blood vessels or nerves. In most cases, a doctor can manually put the dislocated bone back into position. This realignment is called a closed reduction.
Depending on how serious the dislocation is, you may need to wear an elastic bandage, splint, cast, or walking boot to keep the toe in alignment while it heals. In some cases you may need surgery to fit the dislocated bone back into position. This is known as open reduction. Ligaments are the connective tissue fibers that attach bones to each other and to joints.
Treatment for a sprained pinky toe depends on the severity of the sprain. Sprains are categorized in 3 grades:. For grade I sprains, you may only need to rest and ice your toe and possibly do buddy taping.
It can cause your pinky toe to become very painful. In some cases, if pain interferes with your daily activities, or the bunion is more severe, your doctor may recommend surgery. A corn consists of hardened layers of skin. The pinky toe works with the rest of the toes to keep a person balanced. Learn more about the bones of the feet here. It might be small, but the pinky toe plays a vital role in keeping a person balanced.
Therefore, any damage to it can cause issues. It is important to seek medical attention if a person suspects a broken toe, as it can get worse without treatment.
A medical team can treat more serious issues. The toes can turn red because of cold weather, injuries, infections, or other health issues. Learn more about the causes and treatments here. Stubbing a toe can be very painful. It can be hard to tell whether the toe is bruised, broken, or sprained. Learn about symptoms and diagnosis, as…. There are many possible causes of a swollen toe. In this article, find out about the different causes and their associated symptoms and treatments.
Toe injuries are very common. Fractures can range from minor to severe, and some toe fractures need medical attention. Depending on the severity…. A sprained toe is a common injury that is often tender and painful. Broken toes and sprained toes share many causes and symptoms.
Learn more about a…. The fifth outermost or pinky toe is also sometimes called "baby toe", "little toe", and "small toe". The bones of the toes are called phalanges. Can you walk on a broken pinky toe? If you break or sprain your pinky toe, you'll usually still be able to walk, though your balance may be a bit off.
This is because that little toe's main purpose is to provide balance and propulsion when you're moving. Why does my pinky toe hurt?
If your pinky toe hurts and there wasn't an obvious injury that could have caused a fracture or sprain, you may be dealing with bursitis, when a fluid-filled sac between the skin and bone develops. This can be caused by footwear choices like narrow or pointed-toed shoes. If the pain continues, talk to your doctor. How do you treat a broken pinky toe? Treatment varies, but normally starts with an x-ray to determine the type and severity of the fracture.
From there, your doctor may prescribe a walking boot or cast, or simply splint your pinky to your fourth toe. They'll also often recommend over-the-counter pain medications and rest. In rare cases, surgery may be required. Cite This! Also, Natural History finds that humans used walk and balance more on the midline of their feet, but now we have gradually transferred to balancing more toward the side of our big toe, and studies show that our center of balance is still shifting inward.
This means that humans used to rely on their pinky toes for balance, but now they do not rely on them as much, and if this trend keeps up they will no longer need their pinky toes. Shapiro with Natural History also reported that humans seem to be trending to have less and less hair, as that European men are now growing balder by the time they are 30, and that age is getting younger.
This means that eventually, if these trends of evolution keep on going, humans will only have 4 toes AND will also have no hair!
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