Fractures

Getting a fracture is almost inevitable it seems. Many people get broken bones or fractures every single day. If you sustain an injury, it is best to seek medical attention to get a proper diagnosis and treatment started. At WellCare Urgent Care center we will get you checked out and taken care of in no time so you can begin the healing process.


Compound or Simple Fractures

If you participate in physical activities such as contact sports or riding a bicycle, then you are at a higher risk of having an injury that includes a broken bone. Falling down or receiving a strong blow to the body can fracture a bone in different ways. A simple fracture involves having a bone that is cracked or that breaks into two pieces. Alternatively, a compound fracture is more dangerous because one or both pieces of the broken bone break through the skin.

Specific Types of Fractures

A physician can examine you along with collecting an X-ray to determine what type of fracture is present. There are specific types of fractures, including:

  • Avulsion – breaks caused by a ligament or muscle pull
  • Hairline – partial breaks of a bone
  • Stress – fractures caused by strain or repetitive motion
  • Longitudinal – breaks that occur along the length of bones
  • Transverse – breaks that occur across the width of the bones

How Can You Know That You Have a Broken Bone?

If you have a compound fracture, then it is obvious because you will see the bones poking through your skin, and the skin or underlying tissues will bleed. This is also a painful type of fracture, but with closed fractures, you may not understand if you have a sprain or a broken bone.

Here are some of the symptoms of a fracture:

  • Immobility of the body part
  • Bruising and swelling of the skin over the bone
  • Intense pain while trying to stand or lift an object
  • Pain in the body part

Children are less likely to break a bone because their bones are softer while senior citizens can break a bone easily due to the natural aging process.

What Is the Treatment for Bone Fractures?

For minor fractures, a physician adjusts the bones into the correct positions before providing a cast or a splint. However, many fractures require repair with surgery to place the bones in the correct locations or to add metal pins, rods, screws, or plates to the bones. After hospitalization, you will wear a cast for several weeks while the bones heal. Fractures in the hips, neck, or back are particularly dangerous, and you should call paramedics immediately for assistance to avoid additional damage to the body’s nerves or organs. For simple fractures, it is okay to go to an urgent care clinic for diagnosis and treatment.

Come into WellCare

If you have broken or fractured a bone then it is imperative that you get immediate medical care. Come into WellCare Urgent Care center in Grand Rapids so that we can give you the treatment you need. We offer same-day appointments at both our Cascade and Leonard locations.

Should I visit Urgent Care or Emergency Room?

Urgent Care

When you have any medical condition that is non-life threatening or have general medical needs, then an Urgent Care center can take care of these. WellCare Urgent Care takes care of a variety of medical concerns such as the flu, vaccinations, physicals, allergy symptoms, and more.

WellCare Urgent care is convenient because it is quick and cost-effective.

Average visit time: 1 hour
Average cost: $150

Emergency Room

Emergency care is necessary when you are suffering from a life-threatening condition. This could be a heart attack, stroke, head injury, or other trauma that requires more advanced treatment. If you or someone you love has a life-threatening illness or injury, then you need to call 911 and get to the closest Emergency Room.

Emergency Rooms, while the best option for serious trauma, do take time and are costly.

Average Time Spent: 4.5 hours
Average Cost Per Visit: $1700

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