How To Tell If You Should Go To Urgent Care Or The ER

URGENT CARE

Suspect you broke a peripheral bone (foot, ankle, wrist, finger)? Urgent-care docs can X-ray it and put on a temporary splint, then refer you to an orthopedic M.D. for follow-up care and (if needed) a long-term cast.

EMERGENCY ROOM

Hit up the ER for a broken long bone (arm or leg) or centralized one (skull, neck, hip), any break that restricts blood flow (it’ll feel numb), or a fracture in which the bone is sticking out of your skin—you’ll need a cast and possibly surgery.

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