Broken Bone? ER or Urgent Care?
Tap each scenario to find out where your child should go
🩻 The Quick Answer
Yes, most urgent care centers can X-ray for broken bones. But here’s the catch: they can only handle simple fractures. Displaced bones, complex breaks, or injuries needing sedation require emergency room care—where specialists and advanced equipment are ready.
20% of wrist fractures missed on initial X-ray
1 in 5 kids break a bone before age 20
Your Injury. Your Answer.
Tap each card to reveal whether it’s an urgent care visit or ER trip
Bone Poking Through Skin
Your child fell and you can see bone through an open wound.
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🚨 CALL 911
Open (compound) fractures need immediate surgery-level care. Don’t move your child. Call 911 and keep the area still. This is beyond both urgent care AND a standard ER visit.
Swollen Wrist After Fall
Your child tripped and their wrist is swollen, but they can wiggle their fingers.
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⚡ ER IS SAFER
Wrist fractures are tricky—20% are missed on first X-rays at urgent care. If there’s visible swelling, an ER with pediatric specialists can provide better imaging and immediate treatment.
Stubbed Toe, Bruised & Swollen
Kicked furniture hard. Toe is purple and hurts, but your child can still walk on their heel.
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✅ Urgent Care OK
Minor toe injuries can typically be X-rayed and treated at urgent care. They’ll splint if needed and refer to orthopedics for follow-up. Ice and elevate while you wait.
Arm Looks Crooked
After a playground fall, your child’s arm has a visible bend where it shouldn’t.
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🚨 GO TO ER NOW
Visible deformity means displaced fracture. Your child may need sedation to realign the bone—something urgent care can’t do. ERs have pediatric orthopedic specialists on call.
Ankle Twist During Soccer
Your child twisted their ankle. It’s swollen but they limped off the field on their own.
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✅ Urgent Care OK
If they can bear some weight, it’s likely a sprain or minor fracture. Urgent care can X-ray to rule out breaks and provide a splint. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) in the meantime.
Can’t Move Fingers
After an injury, your child cannot wiggle or feel their fingers on the hurt arm.
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🚨 GO TO ER NOW
Numbness or inability to move fingers/toes signals possible nerve or blood vessel damage. This is time-sensitive and needs immediate ER evaluation—not urgent care.
Toddler Won’t Use Arm
Your 2-year-old suddenly won’t use their arm after you lifted them by the hand.
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⚡ ER IS SAFER
This could be “nursemaid’s elbow” (a common dislocation in toddlers). While some urgent cares can fix it, a pediatric ER ensures proper reduction technique for small children.
3 AM Injury
Your child fell out of bed at 3 AM. Arm hurts but no visible deformity or severe swelling.
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🚨 24/7 ER
Most urgent cares are closed overnight. A 24/7 pediatric ER like Priority ER can X-ray, diagnose, and treat immediately—no waiting until morning with a worried, hurting child.
🚨 Skip Urgent Care. Go to the ER If:
- Bone is visible through skin or arm/leg looks crooked
- Your child can’t move fingers or toes on the injured limb
- There’s severe swelling that appeared within minutes
- Injury involves head, neck, or spine
- Significant bleeding accompanies the injury
Why Priority ER for Broken Bones?
True 24/7/365
X-rays and specialists at 3 AM, on holidays—whenever your child needs care
Minutes, Not Hours
Average wait times far shorter than hospital ERs with the same capabilities
Pediatric-Ready
Equipment sized for kids, staff trained to treat growing bones properly
📍 Find Your Nearest Priority ER
Odessa
2014 E 42nd St, Odessa, TX 79762
Serving West Texas & Permian Basin
Round Rock
1125 N Interstate 35, Round Rock, TX 78664
Serving Austin Area & Williamson County
McKinney
4510 Medical Center Dr, McKinney, TX 75069
Serving North Dallas & Collin County
Pantego
2817 W Park Row Dr, Pantego, TX 76013
Serving Arlington & Mid-Cities
Rockwall
1975 N Lake Shore Dr, Rockwall, TX 75087
Serving East Dallas & Rockwall County
Don’t Wait in Pain
Get X-rays, diagnosis, and treatment—all in one visit. No referrals needed.