Beardie has a broken toe; healing very crooked?

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Toro

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Back story first, two months back my bearded dragon broke her toe from being so active and jumping around. I took her to the vet and there was some blood, however, the vet did not want to amputate since she still had feeling in the toe and it was not turning black. She also said to not splint it what so ever and that doing so would only harm my lizard more.

Well now her toe has been healing well overall and doesn't seem to cause any pain. Her eating and drinking and sleep patterns have remained healthy.

My concern is that it has bent more over time and is actually sitting underneath her other nail.
Can i splint it now or is it too late? I don't want her to hurt her other toes or this toe even more.
 

EllenD

Gray-bearded Member
Oh I'm so sorry that the vet made the decision that they did, because it was definitely the wrong one, as that fracture is very displaced...Was this an open fracture, as in the fractured bone came through the skin or cut the skin? And what was the vet's reasoning for not reducing and setting the bone? Was it as displaced when he first did it and saw the vet as it is now? Or has it actually gotten more and more displaced over the 2 months of not having it set and immobilized?

It's awesome that the vet chose not to amputate and wanted to try to save the toe, and I'm very happy that he is feeling fine, eating well, and is active, as he could have easily developed a severe infection with that wound over top of a fracture. However, he would probably have been better off had she amputated the toe, as he could get along just fine without it, he would have been perfectly normal in his mobility without the toe, but now because the vet did not reduce and set the fracture, the toe has healed in a very misaligned position that may really become a hindrance to him walking, climbing, etc. Is it causing him problems in the position it's in now? Is it flexible at the joint where it attaches to the foot?

Depending on where the fracture is within his toe, a certified reptile vet with orthopedic experience may be able to numb him up very well and attempt to get it aligned, then splint it. But splinting it in the position it's in now will only reinforce it healing in that position. You'd have to get the toe aligned before splinting it, and not only could that be extremely painful, you could actually stress it too much and cause it to separate again (although it looks like it's completely displaced if it's frozen in that position).

After 2 months of healing, I would assume that the fracture is already pretty much healed, but again it looks like it's completely displaced and misaligned. Basically an experienced certified reptile vet with orthopedic experience would have to take a new x-ray to see where the fracture is, and to see what position it has healed in. They may be able to do a nerve block and attempt to get the fractured bone realigned (an experienced reptile vet with lots of bearded dragon time will know the proper placement of the toe bones) and then splint it, but after 2 months I'm guessing that in order to get the bone realigned it would need to be re-fractured by the vet. They'd have to put him under to do that, take a new x-ray to check alignment, re-fracture it, then reduce and properly set the toe, then splint or cast it, depending on how healed the wound over top of the fracture is.

I've seen a lot of beardies, blue tongue skinks, monitors, tegus, iguanas, etc. who have had orthopedic surgery, had hardware put in to properly align fractures and to prevent future arthritis from developing, and that have had everything from plaster casts on closed fractures to hard splints to soft splints on open fractures. So there are a lot of certified reptile vets that are also surgeons and orthopedic specialists. Depending on where you live you might want to do a search for the nearest specialist.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have him see an orthopedic reptile specialist, have them examine the toe/foot and it's mobility and gauge how debilitating it's current position is to his life, and to take a new x-ray to see what they're dealing with. They would be the one to give you the options.

I just don't think splinting it in the position it's in is going to help at all, and it might actually make it worse. 2 months may be enough time that a little bone like that is actually fully healed, but if not fully healed it is at the very least near healed after 2 months, to the point that it cannot be set now without re-breaking the bone along the fracture line. If it's not inhibiting his walking, running, climbing, his lifestyle then that's a good thing, but it does look like it may be difficult for him to climb on or grip anything normally in the position it's in.

If you want to get the opinion of a reptile orthopedic specialist we can help you find the closest one to you if you give us your town and state. It wouldn't cost much just to get an x-ray, an examination, and their professional opinion, and it actually is a good idea.
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
You might have it seen by a specialist but if you see no difference in her ability to walk + climb then you might choose to leave it be. Climbing might reveal more about if there's any pain there, so see if she favors it or refuses to use it while climbing a log or other perch/basking structure.

If it seems like she's fine with it that might be an option [ to leave it be ] and to watch that it doesn't cause problems in the future at which time you could consult with the specialist to see about it.
 

Toro

Member
Original Poster
The fracture did not break through the skin but it did open the skin and there was a tiny bit of blood. It was not as displaced as it is now; only in the past week has it become bent to the point of sitting under her other nail. So yes, more displaced over time.
I've been keeping it clean and patting it dry after baths to help prevent infection and have also gave her antibiotics from the vet after the visit.

I was surprised and happy to find out the she could be able to keep her toe- I asked if they would splint it but they told me it would hinder her and would make the wound worse.

It's not causing her any problems in regards to mobility, it does untangle from beneath the other toe when she walks around and I'm able to untangle it by pushing it so slightly, she doesn't seem to feel any pain when I touch it or hold her. It is flexible.

Her grip is compromised on that side, i notice this when she climbs up her green hammock.

Thank you so much for your very thorough post. I'm glad to know there are vets with experience in orthopedics. I live in Washtenaw county, Michigan.
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

That is too bad the vet opted not to straighten it up at the time of injury! A little splint would have really helped out, not hinder her. I am glad that it doesn't seem to be bothering her at all, even if her grip is compromised on that toe/foot.
It is an option to have it looked at to see if they can help with straightening it some so that it doesn't fold underneath of the other toe, just so it's more comfortable for her.
Let us know how things are going & if you end up taking her to another vet.


Tracie
 

Toro

Member
Original Poster
AHBD":batzkafg said:
Oh, get rid of the hammock ASAP, that is most likely where she snagged + broke her toe.

The hammock is not where she broke her toe. She had jumped off her 4 inch platform (like she did often when she was being active) and landed funny/ bent her toe down too far.
The platform has been temporally removed however.
 
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