Why Kids Are More Prone to Ear Infections
Did you know that five out six kids will develop an ear infection by the time they reach age 3? And many kids get far more than one ear infection during their childhood. Here’s a look at why this happens.
The Value of X-rays in Figuring Out Whether You Have a Sprain or a Fracture
You don’t have to be an athlete to have a musculoskeletal injury — one bad step off a curb and your ankle can twist. Or you might stumble on the stairs and hurt your knee. Whatever happened, you’re left with a joint or body part that's in pain and swollen and you want to know what you’re dealing with.
That’s why Forest Urgent Care should be your first stop for basic injuries. At our practice, Dr. Ping Wong and Dr. Waiho Lum make sure that patients have access to expert and comprehensive urgent care services, and our on-site X-ray is a great example of this.
If you’re in pain and wondering what to do next, we suggest coming in to first determine what sort of injury you’re dealing with — a sprain, a fracture, or something else entirely.
Sprains versus fractures
Let’s first spend a moment on the difference between two of the most common musculoskeletal injuries — sprains and fractures.
A sprain is an injury to soft connective tissues called ligaments, which attach bone to bone. One of the most common musculoskeletal injuries is a sprained ankle, which occurs in at least 2 million people in the United States each year.
Outside of ankles, you can sprain ligaments in other joints, such as your knees, elbows, shoulders, thumbs, and hips.
Fractures, on the other hand, are broken bones. Given that there are between 206 and 213 bones in the average adult human body, and more in children, it should come as no surprise that there are 178 million new fractures each year around the globe.
And fractures can develop in any of your bones, from your large femur (thigh bone) to the tiny bones in your toes.
Symptoms of sprains and fractures
Whether you incur a fracture or a sprain, in many cases, the symptoms are similar and include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Stiffness
- Bruising
- Loss of use (not being able to bear weight)
In severe fractures where bone breaks skin, the nature of the injury is obvious, but most sprains and fractures are closed. Only advanced imaging can reveal what’s going on inside.
X-ray as a frontline diagnostic tool
Our on-site X-ray equipment plays an important role in helping us look after the health of our community. With X-ray, we can diagnose most musculoskeletal injuries with just an image or two that indicate which tissues are involved — ligaments, tendons, muscles, or bones.
This early diagnosis is critical because it guides us in your treatment — how we go about treating a sprain versus a fracture can be different. With X-ray, we can correctly identify the injury and make sure that we set you up properly for recovery, which might include:
- Casting
- Bracing
- Crutches
- Wraps
- Rest
- Elevation
- Icing
Depending on your injury, we typically recommend a combination of these treatments to help you heal more quickly and comfortably.
We urge you to err on the side of caution and come in to see us anytime you’re dealing with a painful musculoskeletal injury. With our X-ray services, we can get you on the road to healing and moving without pain in no time.
And you don’t even have to wait — you can walk into our clinic in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, seven days a week or, if you’d prefer, you can call ahead to schedule an appointment.
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