Interesting Nel. I have a toe that I injured about 4 years ago but it wasn't even broken. This toe still acts independently from the rest often a dark purple even when the rest of my feet are more normal in color.
I'd love to know why it is. It's as if some supply got blocked in some way. Also like to know why my now healed up right leg is always a darker shade of whatever the left one is, red or pale blue or purple. We really are a most interesting bunch of people.
I suppose that statistically it is not very relevant but my fungal foot (with never-healing mini sores) has worse flares, swells up more and that ankle is darker and flares (the left one doesn't). Very interesting we are indeed!
I broke my toe 2 years ago and it is still purple. I used to work for an anaesthetist who specialised in Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS). I know that many CRPS patients had skin colour abnormalities as well as alloydinia and changes in skin temperatures so I guess what we have is along the same lines.