4 Most Common Orthopedic Injuries

Patients who have orthopedic injuries that involve open fractures (fractures that break the skin) should go to the emergency room. Patients who have other injuries besides orthopedic ones should also go to the emergency room. For all other types of orthopedic and sports injuries, our orthopedic urgent care centers can be your best option.  Below are some of the common injuries we treat:

Knee Injuries

The knee is commonly injured during walking and running activities. Most knee injuries occur because of a sudden change in direction (pivoting, shifting, jumping) or a sudden force (stepping down from a curb or high surface, landing during a jump or fall).

Most knee injuries can be seen at an orthopedic urgent care clinic. A physical examination and medical imaging studies are used to diagnose knee injuries and then come up with an appropriate treatment plan. Common knee injuries include sprains, strains, and tears (cartilage and ligament).

Shoulder Injuries

Because the shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, it undergoes a tremendous amount of force and rotation each day.  When the ligaments and muscles of the shoulder are overused, or overstressed, painful injuries can occur.  Many of the common shoulder injuries we see are rotator cuff tears, shoulder fractures, shoulder dislocations and injuries to the soft tissue and muscles of the shoulder.

Ankle Injuries

Ankle injuries are very common. The most common type of ankle injury is an ankle sprain. When the ankle is over inverted (the soles of the feet point inward) or over everted (the soles of the feet point outward), the ligaments that connect the bones of the ankle joint can be sprained. Ankle sprains are graded on an increasing severity scale of grades one to three (G1-G3). When ankle sprains are seen at an orthopedic urgent care clinic, they are diagnosed and treated appropriately. Additionally, specialists at a clinic can check to make sure the ankle is not fractured. If it is, it can be treated accordingly.

Wrist Injuries

Wrist injuries commonly occur because of landing on an outstretched arm during a fall. A wrist strain can be painful and cause swelling, bruising, and possible numbness. A wrist fracture can also cause these symptoms. The most common type of wrist fracture is a distal radius fracture, a fracture of the large forearm bone on its end closest to the wrist. Both wrist sprains and fractures can be seen and treated at an orthopedic urgent care clinic. However, it should be again noted that patients with open fractures should go to the emergency room rather.

When an unexpected accident happens turn to Urgent Care at Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster. With immediate access to orthopedic specialists, quick evaluations and on-site x-rays and MRIs, the team at OAL is here for all of your orthopedic needs.