Getting bumped and bruised is a part of life for many people. Children, being natural climbers, fall off playground equipment and furniture. Adults hit the ground after slipping on wet floors or ice. Every day, people of all ages stub their toes, hit their heads, drop things on their feet, bang their funny bones, jam their fingers in doors, or sustain injuries while playing sports.
Humans are infinitely talented and creative when it comes to getting hurt. But when is an injury more than a badge of honor or a funny story?
To take care of yourself and others, it’s critical to understand when a bump or bruise becomes an orthopedic emergency: a condition that need to be seen by an orthopedic physician the same day. It’s equally important to recognize when sudden changes in your orthopedic health require a same-day office visit.
Simply put, an orthopedic emergency occurs when you injure bone or soft tissue in a way that requires immediate treatment to avoid further trauma or harm to your body. Orthopedic emergencies can be the result of a sudden acute injury or trauma, or they could be complications from existing condition or surgery.
Orthopedic emergencies from injury, for example, might include:
Orthopedic emergencies resulting from an existing condition or following surgery might include:
Some orthopedic emergencies may require ER visits, while others can be treated by a same-day visit to an orthopedist.
It’s important to note that severe, acute trauma usually necessitates an ambulance or a visit to the ER. For example, you need to get to a hospital right away if you:
For a less serious injury, a visit to a walk-in or urgent care clinic may be advisable if you have a high fever (103 degrees or higher) in conjunction with a musculoskeletal injury. High fever can be a sign of infection, which can lead to life-endangering complications like sepsis.
If you’re not severely, acutely injured as described above, but you are having sudden mobility problems, swelling, fever, or a notable increase in the amount of pain you’re experiencing, you may have an orthopedic emergency that can wait a little longer — but which still necessitates a same-day visit to an orthopedic specialist.
This advice applies particularly to anyone who’s been seeing an orthopedist for a pre-existing condition or who has recently undergone procedures like lumbar surgery, arthroscopy, injections, or a joint replacement.
If you can answer “yes” to the questions on the following checklist, you should call an orthopedist right away.
The bottom line: a sudden change in your condition is cause to call your doctor.
If you’re post-operative or have recently had fracture repair or orthopedic treatment, call your orthopedist before going to the ER or an urgent care clinic.
Because he or she has special knowledge of your condition or injury, your orthopedist may need to be in close contact with the physician on-call.
However, new or unexpected pain or tenderness should not be ignored, especially in conjunction with other complaints. It’s possible to overlook subtle symptoms of a dangerous underlying problem.
For example, a small child or an elderly person may not show any clear sign of physical injury — no broken bones, bumps, or bruises. But if she has a fever, is lethargic, or is refusing to walk or move around, she may have an infection of the joints. Untreated infections of any kind, especially in children and the elderly, are considered emergencies requiring urgent medical intervention (and usually medicine) to avoid complications.
If you have an injury like a concussion, bone break, or ligament or tendon damage, not seeking treatment could have serious consequences for your health.
Though you may be tempted to “toughen up” or “ride it out,” damage to bone, muscle, ligaments, or tendons is not something you can afford to ignore completely. Untreated injuries can lead to even worse problems: health complications and also added expense and inconvenience as the original injury compounds and leads to disability.
Even if you heal on your own, in the the long run, the cost of an untreated injury can be much higher than getting treatment right away.
Why put your health, your ability to function, and your independence at risk when you can pick up the phone and make an appointment to see an orthopedic specialist today?
Contact us today at Coastal Orthopedics in Corpus Christi, Texas if you have any questions or concerns about your orthopedic needs at : 361.994.1166. Or click here to submit a request for a consultation today!
Article written by: Rob Williams, MD