Salter I Fractures of the Toes: Not So Simple

Salter I fractures of the great toe, as seen with stubbed toe injuries, should be considered occult compound fractures due to the intimate relationship of skin, nail, and bone in the toes. As a result, fractures through the growth plate of a distal phalanx carry a high risk of infection and should be treated accordingly.

References

Pinckney LE; Currarino G; Kennedy LA. The stubbed great toe: a cause of occult compound fracture and infection. Radiology. 1981; 138(2):375-7