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CareersA fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average person has two during a lifetime, according to Mayo Clinic. An urgent care clinic can help you determine the severity of minor broken bones, simple or stress fractures, while also recommending higher care or setting the bone if necessary.
How do Broken Bones and Simple Fractures Occur?
Injuries occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are displaced, non-displaced, open and closed. The bone may not break at all, but merely bend, as is the case with greenstick fractures (which are more common in kids).
Displaced and non-displaced fractures refer to the way the bone breaks. In a displaced fracture, the bone snaps into two or more parts and moves so that the two ends are not lined up straight. If the bone is in many pieces, it is called a comminuted fracture. In a non-displaced fracture, the bone cracks either part or all of the way through, but does move and maintains its proper alignment.
A closed fracture is when the bone breaks but there is no puncture or open wound in the skin.
An open fracture is one in which the bone breaks through the skin; it may then recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin. This is an important difference from a closed fracture because with an open fracture there is a risk of a deep bone infection. A simple fracture is a closed non displaced break or greenstick fracture.
Common Broken Bones and Symptoms
The most commonly broken bones are: the collarbone, arm, wrist, hip and ankle. Symptoms of a fracture include: swelling or bruising over a bone, deformity of an arm or leg, pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied, loss of function in the injured area. Swelling may occur quickly, and an x-ray and proper splinting or immobilization can minimize pain and long-term effects.
Treatment includes rest, ice and compression provided by a splint or ace wrap, as well as elevation to help decrease pain and speed healing. This is often abbreviated as RICE. Ibuprofen is commonly used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain. Other pain relievers can be prescribed if needed.
Why Choose Urgent Care for Broken Bones?
Visiting an urgent care center for broken bones in adults and children is often necessary to assure that your bones can heal properly and return to normal function once the healing process is complete.
Breaking a bone can be a traumatic experience that requires immediate medical attention, in which case 9-1-1 should be called and you should go to the emergency room.
However, a trip to an urgent care center can often be a choice for many types of bone fractures and can help diagnose and treat both the injured bone as well as get relief for the pain so that you feel better sooner rather than later. This can also assure that treatable broken bones do not become long-term problems by accurately diagnosing and treating your issues, in the case that problems are serious.
Contact Us Now
Manatee Urgent Care, located in Bradenton, Florida, is open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours for patients needing urgent care treatment. Manatee Urgent Care’s team of medical professionals is here to provide medical care for your broken bone or simple fracture.
