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Dislocated toes may occur at either of the three toe joints,
but most commonly, at the middle or bottom toe joints.
Dislocations differ from sprung toes in that the collateral
ligaments at the side of the joint are torn completely.
Sideways displacement of the bones about the joint is the
primary diagnostic sign of this type of injury in the lower
two toe joints. |
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When testing for joint laxity, hold the toes extended.
Initially the injury will be painful but this subsides
within 3 to 4 days. Lack of stability may cause lameness
when walking and will severely reduce racing performance.
Swelling may or may not be present depending on the amount
of bleeding and joint capsule damage associated with the
injury. Occasionally, dislocations will have torn ligaments,
joint capsule, and the skin at the side of the joint, thus
exposing the joint surfaces to sand and bacteria. These are
more difficult to repair and have to be treated more
aggressively to avoid infection and arthritis. Dislocation
of the top toe joint is seen almost exclusively on the
inside or outside toes and mainly in the hind feet. The
clinical signs include swelling, bleeding, pain on palpation
and temporary lameness. However, the displacement is not so
obvious, being a rotational displacement with manipulation
of the joint rather than a sideways displacement seen in
dislocation of the lower toe bones. They appear to be more
painful and have a serious impact on performance due to
repeated displacement and pain when weight is placed on the
affected area of the foot. |
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