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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Handle Tape a Broken Pinky Toe Step by Step

When tape a broken pinky toe leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Determine if taping is appropriate.

Most fractures of the toes, including the pinky, are stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone's surface. Stress fractures are often quite painful and involve some swelling and/or bruising in the forefoot area, but they don't cause the bones to look crooked, crushed, mangled or sticking out of the

Most fractures of the toes, including the pinky, are stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone's surface.
Stress fractures are often quite painful and involve some swelling and/or bruising in the forefoot area, but they don't cause the bones to look crooked, crushed, mangled or sticking out of the
Most fractures of the toes, including the pinky, are stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone's surface.
Stress fractures are often quite painful and involve some swelling and/or bruising in the forefoot area, but they don't cause the bones to look crooked, crushed, mangled or sticking out of the
Most fractures of the toes, including the pinky, are stress or hairline fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone's surface.

Clean your feet

and toes. Any time you're dealing with a body injury by using some sort of supportive tape, it's best to clean the area first. Cleaning the area will remove bacteria and other microorganisms that could potentially cause an infection (such as fungus), as well as any dirt and debris that can prevent the tape from sticking

Any time you're dealing with a body injury by using some sort of supportive tape, it's best to clean the area first.
Cleaning the area will remove bacteria and other microorganisms that could potentially cause an infection (such as fungus), as well as any dirt and debris that can prevent the tape from sticking
Any time you're dealing with a body injury by using some sort of supportive tape, it's best to clean the area first.
Cleaning the area will remove bacteria and other microorganisms that could potentially cause an infection (such as fungus), as well as any dirt and debris that can prevent the tape from sticking
Any time you're dealing with a body injury by using some sort of supportive tape, it's best to clean the area first.

Put some gauze or felt between your toes.

Once you've identified that your pinky toe is broken, but not too severely, then the first step of buddy taping is to put some gauze, felt or piece of cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe). This will prevent skin irritation and any potential blistering as your 2 lateral toes are taped

Once you've identified that your pinky toe is broken, but not too severely, then the first step of buddy taping is to put some gauze, felt or piece of cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe).
This will prevent skin irritation and any potential blistering as your 2 lateral toes are taped
Once you've identified that your pinky toe is broken, but not too severely, then the first step of buddy taping is to put some gauze, felt or piece of cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe).
This will prevent skin irritation and any potential blistering as your 2 lateral toes are taped
Once you've identified that your pinky toe is broken, but not too severely, then the first step of buddy taping is to put some gauze, felt or piece of cotton between your little toe and the toe next to it (called the 4th toe).

Tape your pinky and 4th toes together.

After you've placed some sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely tape the 4th and 5th toes together with some medical or surgical tape made for applying to the body. This is the buddy tape method, as you're essentially using your 4th toe as a splint to support, stabilize and protect your broken pinky toe

After you've placed some sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely tape the 4th and 5th toes together with some medical or surgical tape made for applying to the body.
This is the buddy tape method, as you're essentially using your 4th toe as a splint to support, stabilize and protect your broken pinky toe
After you've placed some sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely tape the 4th and 5th toes together with some medical or surgical tape made for applying to the body.
This is the buddy tape method, as you're essentially using your 4th toe as a splint to support, stabilize and protect your broken pinky toe
After you've placed some sterile gauze, felt or cotton between your toes, loosely tape the 4th and 5th toes together with some medical or surgical tape made for applying to the body.

Apply ice or cold therapy.

Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain. Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (so it doesn't cause frostbite) or a frozen gel pack on the front part of your foot

Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain.
Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (so it doesn't cause frostbite) or a frozen gel pack on the front part of your foot
Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain.
Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (so it doesn't cause frostbite) or a frozen gel pack on the front part of your foot
Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain.

Elevate your foot to reduce inflammation.

While you're applying ice to your lateral forefoot in order to combat the swelling, it's also a good idea to keep your foot elevated. Elevating your foot reduces blood flow, which helps to minimize inflammation during injuries. Prop your foot up whenever possible (before, during and after icing) so that it's higher than your heart level

While you're applying ice to your lateral forefoot in order to combat the swelling, it's also a good idea to keep your foot elevated.
Elevating your foot reduces blood flow, which helps to minimize inflammation during injuries.
Prop your foot up whenever possible (before, during and after icing) so that it's higher than your heart level
While you're applying ice to your lateral forefoot in order to combat the swelling, it's also a good idea to keep your foot elevated.
Elevating your foot reduces blood flow, which helps to minimize inflammation during injuries.

Cut back on walking, running and other exercises.

Another important element of home care for a broken toe is some rest and relaxation. In fact, resting by taking the weight off your foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all stress fractures of the foot. As such, avoid the activity that triggered the injury and all other weight-bearing exercises (walking, running, etc.)

Another important element of home care for a broken toe is some rest and relaxation.
In fact, resting by taking the weight off your foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all stress fractures of the foot.
As such, avoid the activity that triggered the injury and all other weight-bearing exercises (walking, running, etc.)
Another important element of home care for a broken toe is some rest and relaxation.
In fact, resting by taking the weight off your foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all stress fractures of the foot.

Take over-the-counter medication short term.

Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process. As such, in addition to applying cold therapy to dull the pain, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or painkillers, such as acetaminophen

Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process.
As such, in addition to applying cold therapy to dull the pain, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or painkillers, such as acetaminophen
Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process.
As such, in addition to applying cold therapy to dull the pain, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or painkillers, such as acetaminophen
Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process.

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