Empty Toe Phenomenon 3 Decades After Its Initial Description: A Case Report

Empty toe phenomenon describes a rare presentation of closed degloving injury of the toe. This is a case report on a 68-year-old patient who had a closed degloving injury of the left fifth toe, with the bony component of the fifth toe displaced into the soft tissue envelope of the fourth toe. She underwent open reduction through a C-shaped incision at the dorsal fourth webspace, followed by K-wire fixation and prophylactic fasciotomy. The toe survived with satisfactory functional outcome 1 year after surgery.

Prompt reduction with fasciotomy may improve toe survival. Initial radiographic findings might have prognostic implications.