Toe,Foot,and Ankle Injuries

Does your injured toe, foot, or ankle look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?

Do you think you have broken or dislocated your toe, foot, or ankle and you have a scrape, blood blister, or cut skin at the site?

Did your toe, foot, or ankle bone pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position, then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Is a young child unable or unwilling to walk or stand, limping, or protecting an injured foot or ankle?

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of your injury?

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?

Do you have moderate pain when you stand or walk that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?

Do you have mild pain that has not gotten better after 1 week of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has your toe, foot, or ankle turned pale, white, blue, or cold after your injury?

After having a brace, cast, or splint applied, have your toes or foot turned pale, white, blue, or cold? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have new numbness or tingling and the skin on your injured toe or foot is more pale, white, blue, or cold than your other foot?

Do you have new numbness or tingling and you are unable to move your toe or foot normally (not because a splint is in the way or because of pain)?

Have you had steady numbness or tingling for 1 hour or longer?

Has your numbness or tingling become worse?

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you unable to move your injured toe, foot, or ankle?

Are you having limited foot or ankle movement with severe pain?

After having a brace, cast, or splint applied, are you unable to move your toes or foot normally (not because the splint is in the way)? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

Is a young child unable or unwilling to walk or stand, limping, or protecting an injured foot or ankle?

Are you unable to move your foot or ankle normally or you have decreased strength after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have swelling and your skin below the swollen area is cold or pale?

Did a lot of swelling develop within 30 minutes of your injury?

Do you have moderate swelling after 24 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating and a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes of your injury?

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating and your foot or ankle looks twisted, bent, or out of its normal position?

Did you feel or hear a snap or pop and you are unable to move your foot or ankle normally?

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating, but you do not have changes in appearance or movement that may require you to seek help sooner?

Does your toe, foot, or ankle feel unstable when you step down?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think an injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Is your trapped toe or foot pale, white, blue, or cold when compared to your other foot?

Do you have toe or foot numbness?

Are you unable to free a trapped foot from an object using home treatment measures, but you do not have any other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around your injured area?

Is your toe, foot, or ankle increasingly tender to the touch?

Do you have red streaks extending from your injured area?

Do you have drainage of pus?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the injured area for 24 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your groin for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did a metal object at high pressure, such as a nail from a nail gun, go through your shoe or boot and stick in your foot? Note: Do not try to remove the object. Seek medical evaluation.

Did a metal object at high pressure, such as a nail from a nail gun, go through your shoe or boot and puncture your foot, but the object is no longer in your foot?

Did you step on an object, such as a sliver, needle, or nail, and you are unable to remove it from your foot?

Do you think an object is still in your foot?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did a large (the size of the injured person's palm), painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of your injury?

Are you concerned about how easily you bruise?

Have bruises from your injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.