Sprains and fractures have a lot in common, especially when it comes to the symptoms. However, you have to know that one is more serious than the other. Still, it is sometimes difficult to determine by just looking at it if what you have sustained from the injury is just a sprain or a fracture.
What is A Sprain?
A sprain is a soft tissue injury while a fracture is a break in your bone. When the ligament around the joint stretch or tears, it’s a sprain. And this can be caused by a lot of reasons, including accidental falls or a sports injury. Sprains can be mild or severe depending on the symptoms. Those who have a sprain will experience pain, bruising, swelling, difficulty moving the injured part, and hearing a popping sound.
Mild to moderate sprains can be easily treated. All you need is to stay at home, rest it out, and ice compress and anti-inflammatories can help. But you have to remember that there are instances where the sprain is determined to be severe enough upon emergency care check-up that it needs surgery.
What is A Fracture?
Fractures are trauma and are more severe than sprains. They are usually caused by a car accident, a severe fall, or a freak accident during a sport. A fracture is a crack on a bone in your body. The immediate symptom that the person will notice would be immediate and excruciating pain around the injured part.
In some cases, some patients may experience deformity of the affected limb, inability to put weight on the injured part, swelling and bruising, and crepitus. Most of the time patients are brought right away to the emergency room and an X-ray is needed to determine the severity of the fracture. And if the X-ray results show a severe fracture, an MRI or a CAT scan will be requested to rule out any damage to the other structures.
When Do You Need Emergency Care?
By now you already know the difference between a sprain and a fracture. In most cases, the person with a fracture will be immediately brought to the emergency room to avoid further damage to the surrounding areas of the injury. Also, this will give doctors a chance to save the injured part.
In cases where the person has a sprain, some people prefer to rest it out at home. Still, it is always best to have it checked. This way, any possible fractures will be ruled out. The doctors will also be able to provide you with the proper care needed and advise on how to help the injury heal more quickly.
24/7 Fracture Emergency Care
You always have to remember that fractures will require immediate treatment. This will help avoid further damage to the bones as well as the surrounding soft tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. In San Antonio, Prestige Emergency Room is open 24/7 to assist patients and provide the much-needed medical care of fractured patients.
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