What is an Orthopedic Emergency?

When you’ve been injured — whether from a contact sport or auto accident — there are hundreds of questions flooding your mind. Can you move? How injured do you feel? Do you need medical attention? The questions seem endless, and these only scratch the surface. While some injuries may result in minor bumps and bruises, others can be more extreme. How do you know which injuries need immediate orthopedic care, and which can be put off until your next doctor visit? And, what defines an emergency?

What are orthopedic emergencies?

Orthopedic injuries often involve the hips, knees, spine, shoulders, or other joints. They can range from chronic pain to fractures. But, when it comes to injuring these parts of the body, what is considered an emergency?

An orthopedic emergency is typically any injury that requires immediate physician care. The most common include:

• Fractures and dislocations
• Auto accident injuries
• Work injuries
• Sports injuries — more severe than bumps and bruises
• Tendon ruptures

Most orthopedic emergencies are the result of a sudden acute injury or trauma, but they can also be complications from an existing condition or recent surgery. This is often the case with joint infections, swelling that blocks blood from flowing, blood clotting, or re-injuring a damaged bone or tissue.