AFC Urgent Care Short Hills is a walk-in clinic with a focus is outside the conventional emergency department in the hospital. Most urgent care centers typically treat injuries and ailments that need timely attention but are not critical enough to visit the emergency department.
We provide urgent care for injuries such as fractures, cuts, fever, minor burns, etc., with the help of emergency-trained doctors and many other health care experts.
AFC Urgent Care Short Hills treats injuries daily for a variety of causes. Sports injuries and slipping and falling are the most common causes of injuries we see. Visit our center on a walk-in basis for injury treatment today.
Does Urgent Care Treat Fractures?
Yes, Urgent Care treats fractures, but this depends on the severity of the fracture. If the fractures appear to be too complicated, Urgent Care may recommend that you visit the emergency care unit.
Types of Fractures
Bone fractures are usually categorized into the following types;
- Complete bone fractures:
The broken bones are completely separate. The fracture goes through the bone dividing it in two.
- Closed or Open fractures:
The fracture is closed or open depending on whether the bone injury breaks the skin. If the bone injury opens the skin, it is an open fracture. If the injury does not break the skin, it is a closed fracture.
- Stress fractures:
It is usually caused by putting more pressure on your bone more than the bone can bear. This will result in the weakening of the bone and its fracture from the stress.
- Partial fractures:
For this category of broken bone injuries, the break does not separate the bone. The break is merely partial.
- Displaced fractures:
In this category of bone injuries, the bone breaks, leaving a gap where it breaks. Essentially, the broken ends of the bone have come out of its positioning.
Doctors may describe the fractures more precisely with the following terms;
- Avulsion fracture: This means a part of the bone is detached from the main bone mass.
- Comminuted fracture: This means that the bone fractured into several pieces.
- Stress fracture: This means that the fracture is a slim crack. It is often called a hairline fracture.
- Pathological fracture: This type of fracture is caused by a disease that damages the bone.
Signs of a Fracture
The affected area may become swollen. The patient may experience intense pain, bleeding, or severe bruises in the affected area. Also, the affected area may become numb.
The patient may find it challenging to move the broken bone or to move around generally.
Treating Fractures
Less severe fractures are usually treated with a cast or splint. Casts and splints are supports that secure the bone so that it does not move. This way, the bone grows back together and heals.
With smaller bones, a simple wrap and a splint over the injury will do.
Sometimes, treatment may involve the use of pulleys and weights to work the tendons and muscles around the fractured bone. This is known as traction. It positions the bone for healing.
Severe bone fractures may be treated with surgery. The treatment may entail the use of screws, plates, and frames to hold the bone still.
