Fracture & Trauma
Symptoms
Swelling, deformity, inability to bear weight — know the signs of a fracture or serious orthopedic injury and where to go for the fastest, best care.
Swelling, deformity, inability to bear weight — know the signs of a fracture or serious orthopedic injury and where to go for the fastest, best care.
Fractures and traumatic musculoskeletal injuries can result from falls, car accidents, sports, or even everyday activities in patients with weakened bones. Some fractures are obvious — visible deformity, inability to move. Others are subtle and easily mistaken for a sprain. Understanding the signs helps you get the right care, fast.
The most common fracture from a fall on an outstretched hand. Symptoms include immediate pain, swelling, tenderness, and difficulty gripping. The wrist may appear crooked or deformed. Includes distal radius (Colles) fractures, scaphoid fractures, and finger fractures.
Pain, swelling, and bruising around the ankle. Unable to bear weight. Tenderness over the bone (not just the ligaments). Can be difficult to distinguish from a severe sprain without X-ray — which is why imaging is critical for any significant ankle injury.
Most common in older adults after a fall. Severe pain in the hip or groin. Unable to stand or bear weight on the affected leg. The leg may appear shortened or rotated outward. Hip fractures are a medical emergency requiring prompt surgical treatment.
Pain and swelling at the shoulder or collarbone. Unable to lift the arm. Visible bump or deformity along the clavicle. Bruising across the chest or shoulder. Common from falls, bike accidents, and contact sports.
Overuse fractures that develop gradually — not from a single trauma. Localized pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest. Common in the shin (tibia), foot (metatarsals), and hip. Often missed on initial X-rays; may require MRI for diagnosis.
A joint forced out of its normal position. The joint appears visibly deformed, swollen, and extremely painful. Unable to move the joint. Most common in the shoulder, finger, and kneecap. Requires prompt reduction (repositioning) by a specialist.
Not all fractures need the ER. Here is how to decide:
Walk-in orthopedic urgent care — suspected fractures, sprains, dislocations, sports injuries, work injuries. Faster, cheaper, specialist-led. Walk in today →
Emergency room — open fractures (bone through skin), hip fractures in elderly, head or chest trauma, suspected spinal cord injury, uncontrolled bleeding, or loss of consciousness.
Open fractures with bone visible through skin. Suspected spinal injury. Severe head trauma. Uncontrolled bleeding. Chest injury with difficulty breathing. Loss of pulse or sensation below the injury.
From the moment you walk in, our orthopedic specialists provide complete fracture care:
Immediate imaging — on-site digital X-ray and MRI for accurate diagnosis. Results read during your visit.
Non-surgical treatment — casting, splinting, bracing, and fracture reduction (setting) for stable fractures. Close follow-up with repeat imaging to ensure proper healing.
Surgical fixation — when fractures are displaced, unstable, or involve joint surfaces, we perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using plates, screws, rods, or pins. Scheduled within days.
Rehabilitation — structured recovery programs to restore strength, range of motion, and function. We coordinate with physical therapy to ensure complete recovery, not just bone healing.
Visit Urgent CareNo appointment needed. On-site imaging. Specialist-led evaluation.
When your fracture is sports-related — comprehensive care.
For post-injury consultations and second opinions. Same-day referral processing.
Restore Orthopedics & Spine provides expert orthopedic care from our Orange, CA clinic — conveniently located for patients throughout Orange County including Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton, Tustin, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Yorba Linda, Brea, Placentia, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Beach, as well as neighboring Los Angeles County communities including La Habra, Whittier, Downey, Cerritos, Long Beach, Lakewood, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Buena Park.
No appointment needed. On-site imaging. Orthopedic specialists on duty.