Can sprains and fractures be treated at an Urgent Care?

Key Points:

• Urgent care centers can treat sprains and fractures, providing an alternative to the emergency room (ER).
• Sprains involve soft tissue injuries with symptoms like pain and swelling, while fractures are breaks in the bone, possibly leading to visible deformities and severe pain.

When you experience an injury like a sprain or a fracture, your first thought might be to rush to the emergency room. But did you know that urgent care centers can also offer to treat these injuries?

Difference between sprain and fracture

A sprain is an injury to the soft tissue surrounding your joints. Sprains happen when the ligaments that support your joint stretch too much or tear, often from falling or getting hurt during sports. The severity of sprains can range from minor to severe. The symptoms can include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Difficulty moving the injured area
• A popping sound or feeling near the joint

A fracture happens when a bone cracks, gets chipped, or completely breaks. There are two types of fractures: closed fractures, where the bone stays inside the skin and open fractures, where the broken bone sticks out through the skin. Open fractures must be treated at an Emergency room. 

• Swelling and bruising
• Swelling and bruising
• A visible deformity in the limb
• Trouble putting weight on the injured area
• A crunching sound (crepitus) caused by the ends of the broken bone rubbing together

The best way to find out if you have a sprain or a closed fracture is to visit an urgent care with an X-ray near you. A doctor can look at the image to see if there are signs of a fracture in the bone.

Self-care for Sprains and Fractures

Below are essential tips to help you manage sprains and fractures until medical help arrives according to the American Red Cross.

1. Treat all muscle and bone injuries as if they were fractures
2. Have the person rest and avoid moving or straightening the injured area
3. If there’s no open wound, place a cold pack wrapped in a thin, dry towel on the injury for up to 20 minutes
   • If this causes pain, remove it sooner.
   • Wait 20 minutes before applying it again
4. If there’s an open wound and it’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure to help stop the bleeding
5. If you haven’t called 9-1-1, reach out to a healthcare provider and follow their advice
6. Regularly check on the person to see if they need more care
7. Make sure they don’t get too cold or overheated
8. If necessary, provide care for shock
9. Let them know you’re there to help and that emergency services are on their way (if you’ve called)
10. Keep an eye on their breathing and responsiveness, and provide care as you’ve been trained to do.

When to Go to an Urgent Care VS the Emergency Room

Sprains and fractures can be treated at Urgent Care. However, there are times when a visit to the emergency room (ER) is necessary.

Go to Urgent Care If:

• The sprain or fractures doesn’t look deformed
• You have moderate pain and swelling but can still move the limb
• You don’t have other injuries or serious health conditions.

Go to the Emergency Room If:

• A bone is sticking out of the skin (open fracture)
• You’re experiencing severe and uncontrolled bleeding
• The limb appears deformed or you can’t move it at all
• You think you may have fractures in your spine, skull, or pelvis

Related: When to Get an X-Ray: Common Reasons for an Urgent Care Visit

Get Care for Sprains and Fractures at Doc-aid Urgent Care

The pain you’re feeling is your body’s way of letting you know that something isn’t right. If you’re experiencing pain, go to urgent care right away to avoid it getting worse. 

You can call us, book an appointment online, or just visit our urgent care clinic in Laredo Tx, Pharr Tx and Weslaco Tx. We’re open every day from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Check out what others are saying about our services on Google: Read our Google reviews