The medical term for a broken bone is fracture. According to the Mayo Clinic, broken bones and fractures are common, as the average person has two during their lives.

Northwest Urgent Care can help identify the severity of the broken bone and whether it is a simple fracture, stress fracture or a compound fracture. You may be directed to another provider for additional care.

How do Broken Bones and Simple Fractures Happen?

Injuries to a bone occur when a physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. Individuals who are physically active and participate in sports are at a greater risk to sustain injury.

There are many types of fractures, but the main types are:

  • Displaced
  • Non-displaced
  • Open
  • Closed

In some cases, the bone may not break, but merely cracks or bends, as is the case with greenstick fractures (which appear more commonly in children).

Displaced and Non-Displaced Fractures

Displaced and non-displaced fractures refer to how the bone breaks. In a displaced fracture, the bone snaps in two or more parts and moves so they are no longer aligned. A non-displaced fracture is as it sounds. While broken, the bone does not move and maintains the correct alignment. A comminuted fracture is when the bone is in many pieces.

Open and Closed Fractures

When a bone breaks and does not puncture the skin, it is a closed fracture. When it does break the skin, it is an open fracture. If the bone goes back into the skin, it is still considered open. This distinction is key, as with an open fracture there is a risk of a deep bone infection.

What is a Simple Fracture?

A simple fracture is a closed non displaced break or greenstick fracture. This means that the bone has not compromised the skin.

Common Broken Bones and Symptoms

The most commonly broken bones are:

  • Collarbone
  • Arm
  • Wrist
  • Hip
  • 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.

What to Do if You Suspect a Broken Bone or Fracture

Swelling may occur quickly after the injury, and an x-ray, proper splinting or immobilization from our urgent care center in Amarillo, Texas, can minimize pain and long-term effects.

Often abbreviated as RICE, immediate treatment for most types of bone fractures include:

  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Compression provided by a splint or ace wrap.
  • Elevation to help decrease pain and speed healing.

You can also use Ibuprofen to decrease inflammation and relieve pain. A medical professional at an urgent care may prescribe other pain relievers, if needed.

Why Choose Urgent Care for Broken Bones?

A broken bone can be extremely painful and take months to heal, but getting the right diagnosis and treatment can change that. An urgent care for broken bones treatment for adults and children can help to assure that your bones can heal properly and return to normal once the fractures heal. Older individuals are more prone to broken bones because of the way bones weaken with age.

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 clinic can help the diagnosis and treatment of your injured bone, as well as help you get relief for the pain. This can also assure that treatable broken bones do not become long-term issues, in the case that problems are serious.

Contact Us Now

Northwest Urgent Care locations in Amarillo, Texas, are open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours for patients needing urgent care treatment. If you are uncertain if your bone has sustained a major injury, our team of medical professionals is here to provide medical care for your broken bone or simple fracture. Walk-in or make a reservation online.