Sprain or Break?: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

A sprain and a small break can feel almost the same, so it helps to have it checked. Urgent care can examine the injury, take an X-ray on site, and wrap or splint it. Rest, ice, compression, and raising the injury help a mild sprain heal. An obvious deformity, a bone through the skin, numbness, or heavy bleeding all mean the emergency room, or 911. If a fracture shows on the X-ray, urgent care can splint it and guide the next steps. For most sprains and simple breaks, a walk-in visit is a quick first stop. For your specific injury, talk with a clinician.