When you’ve been injured — whether from a contact sport or auto accident — there are hundreds of questions flooding your mind. Can you move? How injured do you feel? Do you need medical attention? The questions seem endless, and these only scratch the surface. While some injuries may result in minor bumps and bruises, others can be more extreme. How do you know which injuries need immediate orthopedic care and which can be put off until your next doctor visit? And, what defines an emergency?
What are orthopedic emergencies?
Orthopedic injuries often involve the hips, knees, spine, shoulders, or other joints. They can range from chronic pain to fractures. But, when it comes to injuring these parts of the body, what is considered an emergency?
An orthopedic emergency is typically any injury that requires immediate physician care. The most common include:
- Fractures and dislocations
- Auto accident injuries
- Work injuries
- Sports injuries — more severe than bumps and bruises
- Tendon ruptures
Most orthopedic emergencies are the result of a sudden acute injury or trauma, but they can also be complications from an existing condition or recent surgery. This is often the case with joint infections, swelling that blocks blood from flowing, blood clotting, or re-injuring a damaged bone or tissue.
ER vs Urgent Care vs Walk-In Clinic
When you or a loved one has been injured, you have many options for where to seek treatment. But how do you know which facility is the right one for your situation? If your loved one is unconscious due to an accident or sports injury, you should call 911 immediately and visit an emergency room. If time is of the essence and your life is in danger, an ER visit is better suited to your needs.
Although walk-in clinics and urgent care facilities provide practically the same care, orthopedic walk-in clinics specialize in orthopedic care. That means you’ll see and receive care from specialists trained specifically in orthopedic emergencies. An orthopedic walk-in clinic — like what The Orthopedic Clinic has — also carries a wider selection of inventory including boots, slings, braces, and more solutions in a variety of different sizes.
Checklist: Is my injury an orthopedic emergency?
- Do you think you’ve broken a bone?
- Are you having trouble using a limb, or does it seem out of place/not properly aligned?
- Do you suddenly have a swollen joint?
- Do you have osteoporosis and suddenly feel more pain?
- Is your pain increasing?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you should seek orthopedic care immediately. Answering yes can indicate fractures and other complications and are considered orthopedic emergencies.
Request an Appointment at The Orthopedic Clinic Today
At The Orthopedic Clinic, we want you to live your life in full motion. If you suffer from pain and it’s making your life uncomfortable, let us help you. We’ll tailor a treatment plan that’s best for your lifestyle and get you back to doing the things you love. With six convenient locations, we provide quality orthopedic care and interventional pain management services to patients in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Palm Coast, New Smyrna Beach, and beyond.
Call us at (386) 255-4596 to schedule an appointment.