Core Medicine of Idaho Details the Difference Between Fractured and Broken Bones
Medical definitions can be incredibly nuanced, so it’s important to note that “fractured” and “broken” mean the same thing: fracture is the clinical term for “break” or “breakage”. However, now that you have your answer, don’t stop reading just yet.
While there are varying degrees of fractures, all of them require professional care. Learn more about how Core Medicine of Idaho’s Urgent Care addresses fractured and broken bones, and when to schedule a high-priority appointment.
Different Types of Breaks and Fractures
Not all fractures share the same characteristics. Doctors typically distinguish between fractures depending on location, complexity, and severity. Even before diagnosis, most broken bones can be placed into either of the following categories:
- Open fractures are when bone pierces the outermost layer of your skin. These are also known as complex fractures.
- Closed fractures don’t cause the bone to break through your skin. Your health care provider might also refer to these as simple fractures.
Medical professionals may use different words to describe specific types of injuries.
- A stress fracture, for instance, is a small break in a bone. Most stress fractures are caused by overuse or sports injuries. Sometimes, you might have such subtle symptoms that you don’t immediately realize you’re seriously hurt.
- A comminuted fracture, on the other hand, occurs when a bone shatters into multiple pieces. They’re typically easy to detect with imaging tests and are more likely to prompt noticeably severe symptoms.
Why Symptoms of a Broken Bone Aren’t Always Severe ![x-ray-image-fractured-bone-in-arm]()
Fractures are undoubtedly traumatic injuries, but that doesn’t mean they’re always intensely painful or visibly disfiguring. The symptoms of a fracture could include:
- Tenderness or pressure
- Feelings of pain, which could be mild, moderate, or severe
- Swelling, which could arise near the point of impact or breakage
- An inability to move a certain part of the body, or to exhibit a normal range of motion
- Intense bruising or obvious discoloration
Most broken bones trigger symptoms, but some may be unexpectedly mild. This is especially true for overuse-related fractures, as well as other injuries that weren’t caused by obvious physical trauma.
Don’t Take Chances with Your Health: Visit Our Caldwell Urgent Care Clinic Today
Every broken bone is a medical emergency, even if it doesn’t hurt quite as bad as you might expect. If ignored or left untreated, fractures always have the potential to cause long-term complications—increasing your risk of developing chronic pain, arthritis, or a permanent disability.
You don’t have to accept compromises regarding your health. Core Medicine of Idaho’s Caldwell urgent care offers:
- Effective medical care at an affordable price.
- Wait times that are often measured in seconds.
- An on-site X-ray, assuring that you receive the right diagnosis without having to bounce between different offices and locations.
- Highly experienced staff with decades of experience treating traumatic injuries in emergency departments, intensive care units, and other high-stakes settings.
Walk-in appointments are available for your entire family to ensure prompt, quality care. As client Jenni Campos said, “We were able to get in right away after my daughter fell and we were worried she might have broken her wrist. Kari was great: she chatted with my daughter to figure out what happened, sent us for x-rays, and talked us through what to do next, all in less than two hours!”