Broken toe... Splint advice

poly mom

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My 2 year old boy (is a polydactyl) broke on of his hind toes two weeks ago. Today he was re- x-rayed and the doctor said it was not healing as fast as he'd liked and Kris needs another splint for 3 more weeks (he initially said two but will be on vacation so we pushed the appt to 3 weeks). Long story short Kris came home with a new splint. Being his third I thought he'd have the hang of it but the doctor mentioned he'd try stabilizing it even more by making it a bit tighter. His is walking less now and his leg appears almost wobbly above the splint. I know they say allow a couple days to get the hang of it but I'm a nervous parent right now. Has anyone experience this before? He also shakes it as he walks (which I assume is just the nuisance of a splint). The wobble is more what worries me.
 

quiet

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Hi;

Is the broken toe a weight baring toe? Did they tell you what to do if you had any issues with the splint? This is supposed to stay on 3 weeks? What did they say to do if he gets it wet etc.?

Is anything visible that you checking for swelling?
 
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poly mom

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No it's not a weight bearing toe. The splint is for 3 weeks and if it gets soiled I should go get it changed. This is his 3rd splint and his break did not puncture his skin. I check his toes for swelling and the section above his bandage. (The splint is simple with something that resembles a tongue depressor. The first one looked like a plastic cast but was too heavy and he kept wetting it. )
 

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It does seem excessive for a non weight bearing toe. Unless I am missing something here.
 

catsallaround

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Wondering if it is to tight.  If he is shaking it that can unset the splint.  Have you talked about just letting it heal on own if it is not to bad?
 
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poly mom

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The vet is worried that if it heals on its own he can rebreak it. Being a polydactyl the bone that should be supporting just one toe is sharing the bone with another toe. It's almost like the extra toe broke off. I don't know if it's easier to show you the X-ray from his first visit.
 

quiet

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Will look when I can get home.13 fires by my house and roads closed. Phone doesn't work to well
 

catsallaround

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Oh no Quiet.  Stay safe and good thoughts it gets under control soon.
 

peaches08

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Is this a "thumb"?  Is he biting at the leg or anything like that? 

Sorry Quiet.  Stay safe!
 
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poly mom

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Stay safe Quiet.

Yes this is what would be his "thumb" or inner most toe. He is not biting at it at all. I placed a no slip sock over it because he was licking the initial splint and slipping around. I would not say that the licking has increased. I check his toes and he doesn't pull away and the top of the splint for swelling daily.
 

peaches08

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I have polydactyls too, so I had to ask.  It sounds like he's OK, and it sounds like you've been properly educated on things to look out for.

Without looking at it, and I am not a vet, but:  One of the first things he's going to notice is the additional weight of the splint.  Second, the splint may be adding height or has a funny shape on the weight-bearing portion (the "foot" part).  Throw in some lack of mobility in the splinted area and he's probably just wobbly and tired from dealing with the splint.  Good on you for keeping an eye on it!
 
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poly mom

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Thanks peaches! That makes me feel a bit better I'll keep an eye on this crazy boy.
 

quiet

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Hi;

I have attached his xray to this post and added some markers. Are there any other xrays or is this it? Any other views? I ask because the foot is really rotated and it is kind of hard to read. ( I am not a vet and don't read radiographs because I am not a vet) but.........

Red arrow= this is obviously a break but is this radiograph after it was splinted or before? Was there an xray taken after it was splinted? Have there been any follow up xrays?

Pink arrow= I am thinking this is just an artifact? Did they mention anything about it?

Yellow circle= Hard to tell due to the rotation but doesn't look right. Is this another break? Did they only talk about the one break?

Green circle also maybe due to rotation but also doesn't look right.

Blue arrows= Was there a bandage on his foot? What is all this stuff here? If it was a bandage or something it would explain the way the toes look so kind of squished together by green circle.

Let me know. Did they sedate him for the xrays?

Are you able to check for any swelling in the toes? With the splint is he weight bearing? Was he weight bearing with the last splint? I am surprised he hasn't chewed it off.
 
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