Top 5 Reasons to Visit an Emergency Room: Fractures
The importance of bones to our body cannot be stressed enough especially when it comes to support and therefore movement of the body and the body parts. It is also because of this role they play that they bear the stress and force that ensues from our daily routines and activities such as walking, lifting and many others. Bones, for the most part, are very robust and are able to withstand the stress and force exerted on them on the regular. However, if the force and stress exerted on a particular bone is stronger and more than it can withstand, then the result is a bone break, or what is referred to as a fracture in professional circles. A fracture, as is explained by the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com, is a medical condition whereby the continuity of a bone is broken. Fractures can occur can occur pretty much at any time and for many reasons ranging from playing sports, especially contact sports such as soccer or football, to work-related injuries and even due to accidents such as those involving bikes and motor vehicles as well as high falls among many others. It is also worth noting that bone fractures come with a significant amount of pain due to the fact that they are mostly caused by high force impact. While there are cases of bone fractures that can be handled in an urgent care facility, there are those that need one to visit an emergency room as soon as possible. This article will look to highlight the top 5 reasons to visit an emergency room for fractures so continue reading for more on the same.
One of the top reasons that should ensure that one heads over to an emergency room for a fracture is if they have broken a bone and the bone has broken through the skin. This is referred to as an open fracture and should always be treated with the utmost seriousness. The gurus over at FrontlineER.com also warn that in some instances, the bone may break through the skin but then move back under the skin meaning that not all cases of open fractures will have a visible bone protruding through the skin. However, if the bone has broken through the skin, whether it is now visible or not, one should ensure they head over to an emergency room as soon as possible as such fractures come with a high risk of infection.
Another reason that should lead to an immediate visit to an emergency room is if one suffers a fracture and there is heavy bleeding at the site of the fracture. Instances of fractures that are accompanied by heavy bleeding are to be taken seriously as they are usually due to one suffering a compound fracture, which is usually a fracture emergency. Heavy bleeding, regardless of the injury should always be taken seriously, but more so if it ensues after a fracture. This is because not only is heavy bleeding life-threatening, but if not stemmed it could lead to one losing functionality of the affected part, especially if it is a limb.
Yet another reason that should lead to an immediate visit to an emergency room is if the fracture was as a result of a serious accident. This should be taken seriously as the fracture may be more complicated as it looks and there may be other internal injuries to contend with as per the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com. This means that, if one suffers a fracture after having been involved in a motor vehicle accident, bicycle accident, a heavy fall among many other scenarios, then they should be taken to an emergency room regardless of any other situation. It is also important to note that in such a situation, one should dial 911 and have the injured person be taken to the emergency room by an ambulance rather than driving them there.
If you suffer a fracture or you suspect you may have suffered one, and the site of the fracture and/or the surrounding area begins to turn blue or become numb, you should ensure you go to the emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to. This is common in instances of broken legs or hands or arms and a s such if your toes or fingers begin turning blue or become numb, visit an emergency room as soon as possible. If the person with the fracture also becomes unresponsive, losses consciousness or is even not breathing, then ensure that they are brought to an emergency room as soon as possible to be attended to.
The location of the fracture also plays an important role in deciding whether or not to visit an emergency room for a fracture. Here, medical experts, including those over at FrontlineER.com, are adamant that if the location of the fracture is on the neck, head or spine, one should head over to an emergency room as soon as possible. The same should apply to instances where the fracture is on the hip, upper leg or the pelvis.
It is our hope that this article will help you avoid serious consequences by visiting an emergency room as soon as possible if your fracture is covered by any of the above five points, with FrontlineER.com being the best place of them all to visit.
