Many people head straight to the emergency room or a general urgent care center when they experience a sprain, strain or sports injury. But there’s actually a faster, more specialized option available for urgent orthopedic care.
Orthopedic urgent care focuses specifically on musculoskeletal injuries — anything that impacts the body’s bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons, including strained muscles, minor cuts that require a few stitches and even some broken bones.
Keep reading to learn what orthopedic urgent care is, when to use it and how it differs from traditional urgent care or ER visits.
What Is Orthopedic Urgent Care?
While general urgent care services include walk-in care for a variety of health issues, orthopedic urgent care focuses specifically on acute orthopedic injuries.
An orthopedic urgent care is staffed by orthopedic specialists, physician assistants or providers trained in musculoskeletal care to treat injuries and issues that aren’t life-threatening but need quick expert care.
Conditions Treated at Orthopedic Urgent Care
Orthopedic urgent care provides fast, convenient care for a wide range of musculoskeletal-related health concerns.
Your musculoskeletal system includes all the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints and creates the framework of your body. It's what allows you to stand, sit, walk and dance and it’s also what protects your internal organs.
Orthopedic urgent care providers specialize in caring for conditions, including:
- Back or neck pain
- Bruises
- Dislocations
- Joint pain or swelling, such as from arthritis
- Minor to moderate bone fractures
- Post-surgery complications
- Sprained ligaments
- Sports injuries, like an ACL tear
- Strained muscles
- Tendonitis
- Work-related or overuse injuries
Additional onsite services often include:
- Casting, splinting or bracing
- Diagnostic imaging, such as X-ray services
- Follow-up coordination with orthopedic surgeons
- Laboratory testing
- Minor procedures, such as joint aspiration
- Physical therapy referrals
- Steroid injections
- Stitches and other wound care
With a wide range of onsite services, orthopedic urgent care offers a streamlined option for expert musculoskeletal care from highly specialized providers.
When to Choose Orthopedic Urgent Care vs. General Urgent Care or the ER
If you or a loved one experiences a non-life-threatening injury to their musculoskeletal system, visit an orthopedic urgent care, if possible. The health care professionals at orthopedic urgent care centers specialize in your bones, muscles and joints — and caring for them is what they do best.
Certain types of orthopedic injuries, such as broken bones where the bone is piercing the skin, or injuries that damage the body's nerves, should be considered emergencies and you should immediately go to your nearest ER.
It’s important to know your options so you can get back to moving comfortably, faster.
Care Option | Best For | Common Examples |
| Orthopedic Urgent Care | Non-life-threatening bone, muscle or joint injuries that require specialized care. | • Back or neck pain • Minor fractures (closed) • Sprains and strains • Sports injuries • Swollen joints • Worsening orthopedic issues |
| General Urgent Care | Mild to moderate, non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries that do not require orthopedic expertise. | • Earaches • Cold or flu symptoms • Mild allergic reactions • Minor injuries, cuts or burns • Minor joint pain or swelling • Minor rashes or infections • Minor sprains or strains |
| Emergency Room (ER) | Life-threatening injuries, open fractures, head/spine trauma or any injury involving severe pain, bleeding or neurological symptoms. | • Head or neck injury • High fever with joint pain • Loss of consciousness • Nerve/blood vessel damage • Open fractures (bone piercing skin) • Severe deformity or trauma |
Choose Urgent Orthopedic Care If:
- You have a musculoskeletal injury and want specialty care
- You have an existing orthopedic issue that seems to be getting worse
- You have a sports-related injury
- You want faster access to orthopedic evaluation without waiting for an appointment
- Your injury isn’t life-threatening, but you want more specialized treatment
Choose the ER If:
- The injury is severe, potentially life-threatening, open or involves heavy bleeding
- There’s a loss of consciousness or multiple injuries
- There's a visible deformity with intense pain
- You have joint pain and swelling with a fever
- Your nerves or blood vessels have been compromised
- You suspect a head, neck or spine injury after trauma
Benefits of Orthopedic Urgent Care
Visiting urgent orthopedic care for non-life-threatening bone, muscle, ligament and joint issues offers several benefits compared to going to a general urgent care center, including:
- Better outcomes for orthopedic injuries due to specialist insight
- Expert-level care from providers trained in bone and joint conditions
- One-stop care for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up plan
- Walk-in service offered — no need to make an appointment
What to Expect During a Visit
Your visit to an orthopedic urgent care center will be a lot like visiting a general urgent care center. Here’s what you can expect:
- Walk right into the center or, if available, schedule an appointment online or check the waiting times.
- When you walk in, check in at the front desk with our friendly staff.
- You'll be asked to provide a bit of detail about your medical history and what brings you in today.
- Once you are called back to see an orthopedic specialist, you'll be asked about your medical history in more detail and will be given a physical exam.
- From there, your orthopedic physician will diagnose the issue via the exam results and diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, ultrasound or MRI scans.
- You'll receive immediate treatment, which may include casting, splinting, bracing, pain relief and a referral to physical therapy.
- Your orthopedic doctor will also provide you with a personalized care plan and referrals for follow-up care.
Who Should Use Orthopedic Urgent Care?
Orthopedic urgent care is perfect for people who have non-life-threatening injuries that don't require immediate surgery to the framework of their body — bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
Receiving fast, specialized care for orthopedic injuries can help alleviate your pain quickly and get you healing faster for the best possible outcome.
We recommend orthopedic urgent care for:
- Anyone experiencing sudden joint or back pain without a traumatic event
- Athletes with new sports injuries
- Concerns about a possible fracture or dislocation
- Parents with kids who fell or hurt themselves on the playground
- Post-surgical patients who have increased pain
- Spraining an ankle when tripping or stepping off the curb the wrong way
- Workers with acute strain or pain
Get the Right Orthopedic Care, Right Away
Orthopedic urgent care bridges the gap between emergency rooms and scheduled specialty visits and provides you with the same convenience and walk-in service as general urgent care.
If you or a loved one needs urgent orthopedic care, visit our Florida orthopedic urgent care location in Winter Park or schedule an appointment online today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthopedic Urgent Care
Do I need a referral to go to urgent orthopedic care?
No referral is typically needed. Most clinics accept walk-ins and same-day appointments.
Can an orthopedic urgent care center treat children?
Yes, many centers treat pediatric injuries like fractures, growth plate injuries and sprains, depending on the child’s age. They may also have pediatric orthopedic specialists on staff who understand a growing child's unique anatomy. You’re always welcome to call ahead to confirm before visiting.
Will I see an orthopedic specialist at urgent care?
Most orthopedic urgent cares are staffed by orthopedic providers or physician assistants trained in musculoskeletal care.
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