If you’ve injured a joint, how do you know whether you have a fracture or a sprain? Some fractures are minor, whereas some sprains are severe. Recovery from a bad sprain can take as long as recovery from a fracture, depending on its severity.
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, treats many sprains, strains, and fractures. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to tell whether you have a sprain or a fracture without an X-ray.
If you suffer a painful injury to a joint and can’t bear weight on the joint or are in severe pain, it’s time to call our office for an appointment. We’ll fit you in so that you’re seen promptly. Leaving a severe sprain or fracture untreated or improperly treated can cause long-term joint damage and result in chronic pain.
Dr. Shults examines your injury, determines your degree of movement in the joint, and takes X-rays to determine the type of injury you have and its severity. Then he prescribes a course of treatment.
Fractures are broken bones. A fracture can be a complete break in the bone, in which it separates into pieces; a partial break, which is a large crack in the bone, or hairline or stress fractures, which are very small cracks.
A sprain means you’ve stretched or torn ligaments around a joint. Sprains are grouped into three categories called grades. Grade 1 is a minor sprain, which means you’ve stretched a ligament beyond its capacity or have a minor tear. Grade 2 means you have a partial tear in the ligament (moderate sprain), and grade 3 means you’ve torn a ligament all the way through (severe sprain).
Because fractures and sprains vary in severity, many of the symptoms are the same. Swelling, bruising, and tenderness characterize both injuries. However, there are some differences.
The following are typical signs of a fracture versus a sprain.
Does the joint look noticeably different than it normally appears? If the injury is on your ankle, is your foot crooked? Perhaps it’s turned awkwardly to the side or turned too far up or down. You have severe pain and can’t get it back into its normal position; you have a fracture.
If your joint isn’t out of position, you may have only sprained it; an X-ray helps determine which injury you have.
Does the joint look misshapen? Do you have large lumps or bumps around it? It’s very likely broken.
Is your joint numb? If so, it’s more likely your joint is broken. Numbness can occur with some severe sprains, but it occurs more often with a break.
A fracture results in severe pain that doesn’t resolve in a few days. The type of fracture depends on the length of the recovery. It takes bone that has a hairline fracture 2-12 weeks to heal. However, if you have a complete fracture, your recovery can take a few months.
If you have a minor ankle sprain, you can bear some weight on the ankle after the injury. Your pain resolves in a few days with home care using the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
On the other hand, if you have a severe sprain and your joint is unstable, you’ll need a brace or a cast. Your recovery could take weeks — the same length of time as some fractures.
If you can’t move the joint at all, you probably have a fracture. You may be able to move the joint with some fractures. An X-ray lets your doctor know definitively if you have a break.
If you’re not able to bear any weight on the joint, it’s more likely a fracture.
If you heard a crack when you received the injury, you probably have a fracture.
For expert diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online.
