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Broken Bones vs. Simple Fracture

Wellington Physicians Urgent Care, located in Wellington, Florida, is ready to help with your minor broken bone or simple fracture.

Are Broken Bones Common?

Broken bones, also known as fractures, are common. On average, a person will have two fractures in their lifetime, according to mayoclinic.org. When broken bones occur, it is important to receive immediate medical advice if the pain is so severe that beating weight on the injured area is close to impossible. Broken or fractured bones can become a more serious injury the longer the patient waits to seek medical treatment.

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). Broken bone or simple fracture injuries can occur at any time and when least expected.

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.

What is a Fracture?

When a fracture happens, it’s classified as either open or closed. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a closed fracture is a bone broken, but the skin is still intact. The bone is broken, but there is no puncture or open wound in the skin.

An open fracture, also called compound 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.

Overuse or repetitive motions can tire muscles and put more pressure on the bone. This causes stress fractures. This type of fracture is more common in athletes.

Another type of fracture is a transverse fracture. This type of fracture occurs when a bone breaks in a straight line across the bone. This fracture is very serious and it’s recommended to seek medical attention.

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 it should be a high priority to reduce the swelling that the injury caused.

An x-ray and proper splinting or immobilization can minimize pain and long term effects of the injury as well. Other symptoms for a broken bone include intense pain, numbness, tingling, and limited mobility or inability to move a limb.

Treatment for a fracture 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.

Over-the-counter medicine such as Ibuprofen is commonly used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain. Other pain relievers can be prescribed if needed.

Urgent Care for Broken Bones

Visiting an urgent care for fractures or broken bones for children and adults 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. By visiting an urgent care facility, the medical professionals 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 Today

Wellington Physicians Urgent Care, located in Wellington, Florida, is open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours for patients needing urgent care treatment. Wellington Physicians Urgent Care’s team of medical professionals are here to help with your broken bone and help diagnose the severity of the injury.

Walk-in or make a reservation online.