How Long Does a Phalanx Fracture Take to Heal?

I’ve compiled here the most reliable data I could find on the consolidation and healing time of a fracture to a phalanx of a finger or toe.

And what can be done to encourage bone consolidation? Or what if the phalanx doesn’t consolidate?

Summary: Because phalangeal bones are short, they tend to heal faster than long bones. In general, healing is well underway 4 to 6 weeks after fracture.

♻️ Last update: January 20., 2025.
👩‍⚖️ Declaration of financial interests: none directly related to the subject. My complete declaration of financial interests is in the legal notice section.
Written by Nelly Darbois, physiotherapist and scientific editor

Consolidation time of toe phalanges (foot)

The phalanges of the toes that break the most are those of the big toe. Especially at the distal end, since this is the one most exposed to blows. [Godoy-Santos 2020]

Here’s what a displaced phalangeal fracture of the foot looks like:

We have data from various studies on returning to sport after fracturing the toes. Whether following trauma or a stress fracture [Robertson 2023].

• For non-operated phalangeal stress fractures, sport was resumed 5 to 10 weeks after the fracture.
• For phalangeal stress fractures requiring surgery, sport was resumed 6 to 12 weeks after the fracture.
• For non-operated phalangeal fractures following trauma, sport was resumed between 8 days and 6 months after the injury.
• For operated phalangeal fractures following trauma: sport was resumed between 3 and 6 months after the injury.

📝 What to remember: if you’ve had surgery, it’s normal for you to take longer to recover from your fracture.

As far as consolidation time is concerned, I haven’t found any precise data beyond a general 6-week timeframe, which applies to all fractures.

Research teams publishing on the subject report thatconsolidation occurs faster and without complication most of the time for the phalanges of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th toes, but can take longer for the big toe [York 2017].

📝 What to remember: if you’ve broken a phalanx of the big toe, consolidation can take from 4 to 6 weeks. It will probably be shorter if you’ve fractured one of the other 4 toes.

The consolidation time of the phalanges of the fingers of the hand

The phalanges of the hand that fracture most are the proximal phalanges: those closest to the wrist.

In particular, the phalanges of the middle, ring and little fingers are fractured.

A German-American research team has compiled data on the treatment and recovery of proximal phalanx fractures:

Proximal phalanx fractures are often clinically consolidated four weeks after injury.

Lögters 2018

Here’s the prognosis for fractured phalanges of the hand described by a research team that compiled scientific publications on the subject 🩺👍:

Most fractures heal irrespective of the method of fixation [surgery], although a small percentage of delayed consolidation, poor consolidation and non-union have been described.

Long-term complications, such as reduced range of motion and deformity, are well documented.

Despite this,most patients regain their functionality and are able to return to work, usually in the same profession.

Dalton 2023

Source : Dalton 2023

When can consolidation take longer?

Your state of health or other more general factors can impact consolidation time and slow it down.

Here’s a list of the factors identified, for all fractures.

🚨 This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll take longer to consolidate if you have one or more of these risk factors! But it could be an explanation if you find you take a long time to consolidate.

• Over 65 years of age.
• Displaced fracture. This means that there is a lot of space between the broken pieces of bone: the more space there is, the longer it is likely to take to heal.
• Complication: secondary displacement of bone fragments, infection.
• Obesity.
• Anemia.
• Diseases affecting hormones, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and menopause.
• Malnutrition, especially if vitamin D and calcium deficiencies are present.
• Steroid use.
• Tobacco or alcohol consumption (past or present).
• Certain medications, especially those taken over long periods of time: NSAIDs, corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, quinolones.

Source : Sheen 2023

Can we speed up consolidation time?

There are no drugs, devices or physiotherapy techniques that can speed up bone consolidation. It’s a natural process that takes several weeks!

However, you can avoid slowing down consolidation time by playing on the modifiable factors impacting consolidation time.

✅ Avoid drinking alcohol.

✅ Stop smoking, or reduce your tobacco consumption.

✅ If you’re deficient in vitamin D or calcium, consider supplementing or consuming more.

What to do if the fracture doesn’t heal?

You had a follow-up X-ray and were told that you still had no bone callus? That consolidation was not going well?

It’s something that happens.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t eventually consolidate. Some people can take more than 6 months for consolidation to finally begin.

When consolidation does not occur for a long time, we speak of pseudarthrosis. I’ve devoted a full article to this subject in the free access section: Living with nonunion fracture.

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That’s all I wanted to say on the subject! Any questions or comments? See you in comments!