The information on this page refers to all toes except for the great toe.
Toes comprise three bones, called phalanges, except for the great toe, which has only two. Because our toes are typically very active throughout our lives in walking, jumping, stretching, and movement, it is common to experience toe fractures, often called broken toes.
One or more of the three phalanges in the toe can fracture, resulting in a painful injury that usually does not usually require surgical intervention to heal properly. Nonetheless, some more serious toe fractures, especially if they involve multiple toes, may be treated with an operation, as they can cause long-term complications like toe misalignment that impact quality of life and athletic performance if left unchecked.