Sprain or Broken Bone? When To Visit Urgent Care

A fall on the sidewalk, a twist during a workout or a jammed finger while doing everyday tasks can leave you with pain, swelling and one big question: Is it a sprain or could it be a broken bone?

The truth is, it’s not always easy to tell without a medical exam. The good news is that many minor, non-life-threatening bone injuries can be evaluated at an urgent care center. If you need an X-ray, a splint or guidance on what to do next, urgent care may be a convenient first stop.

Urgent Care Can Evaluate Minor Broken Bones 

Urgent care centers often evaluate painful injuries that are not life-threatening. These may include suspected fractures in the fingers, toes, hand, wrist, foot or ankle. They may also evaluate possible stress fractures, which are small cracks that can happen from repeated pressure, activity or overuse.

Injuries that are severe, involve a large bone or happen during a serious accident usually need emergency care instead.

Sprain or Broken Bone? Signs to Watch For

Sprains and fractures can cause similar symptoms. A sprain happens when a ligament (the tissue that connects bones at a joint) is stretched or torn. A fracture is a crack or break in the bone. Because both can cause pain, swelling and trouble using the injured area, it can be hard to tell the difference without an exam or X-ray.

You should consider getting checked if pain starts after a fall, twist, or direct hit, especially if the pain is focused in one spot. Below are signs of a more serious injury.

• Pain that gets worse when you move, grip, walk or put weight on the area
• Swelling, bruising or tenderness
• Trouble using the injured area
• Limited range of motion
• A popping or snapping feeling at the time of injury
• A finger, toe or limb that looks crooked or out of place
• Numbness, tingling, pale skin or blue color beyond the injury

Urgent Care for Broken Bone Symptoms: When to Go

Urgent care may be a good choice when the injury seems minor, the skin isn’t broken and the area doesn’t look badly out of place. For example, you may visit urgent care for a painful finger, toe, wrist, hand, foot or ankle injury that needs an exam or X-ray.

Go to the emergency room or call 911 in these cases:

• If bone is sticking through the skin
• There is heavy bleeding
• The limb looks severely bent or out of place
• You have numbness, weakness
• You have severe pain
• The area is blue or pale skin beyond the injury.

You should also seek emergency care for injuries involving the head, neck, back, hip, or thigh, or injuries caused by a high-impact accident.

What to Expect at Urgent Care for a Suspected Fracture

At urgent care, a provider will ask how the injury happened, where it hurts and what symptoms you are having. They will examine the injured area and check for swelling, tenderness, movement, blood flow and feeling. If a fracture is suspected, you may have an X-ray to help confirm whether the bone is broken and show where the injury is.

Sometimes, a very small fracture may not show clearly on an X-ray right away. If your symptoms still point to a possible break, your provider may recommend a splint, follow-up imaging or a visit with an orthopedic specialist.

Minor Fracture Treatment: Splints, Braces and Follow-Up Care

Treatment depends on the type of fracture, where it is, whether the bone is lined up properly and how severe the injury is. A small, stable fracture may only need a splint, brace, boot, cast or sling to keep the bone still while it heals. Your provider may also recommend ice, elevation, activity limits and over-the-counter pain medicine.

If the break is more serious, you may need additional care. That could include being referred to a local emergency department, seeing an orthopedic specialist, having repeat X-rays, or needing a procedure or surgery.

When in Doubt, Get Your Injury Checked

If something doesn’t feel right after an injury, it’s worth getting checked. Urgent care can help evaluate many minor bone injuries and guide you on what to do next. If your symptoms are severe or the injury looks serious, go to the emergency room right away.