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Falls and Direct Impact
A fall onto an outstretched hand, a direct blow or landing forcefully on the shoulder, knee, hip or ankle can cause a fracture.
Suspect a fracture?
Tell our front desk that you may have a broken bone.
We will make every effort to see you the same day, time permitting.
404-298-3730
Rapid Access to an Orthopedic Fracture Surgeon
Same-Day Fracture Care in Atlanta from Experienced Orthopedic Surgeons
Think you broke a bone? Get rapid access to an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation and treatment of arm, shoulder, wrist, leg, knee, ankle and foot fractures. Call and tell our front desk that you may have a fracture. We will make every effort to see you the same day, time permitting.
Same-day appointments when possible
Upper-extremity fractures
Lower-extremity fractures
Casting and bracing
Advanced surgical fixation
Priority scheduling for suspected broken bones
Call Us Before Spending Hours in the Emergency Room
Many stable arm, wrist, shoulder, leg, ankle and foot injuries can be evaluated directly by an orthopedic fracture specialist. Tell our front desk that you have a possible fracture or that another facility has already diagnosed a broken bone. We will make every effort to arrange a same-day appointment, time permitting.
Fractures Explained
A Broken Bone and a Fracture Mean the Same Thing
Patients often hear several different terms after an injury. In orthopedics, a break, crack and fracture all describe an injury to the bone. The important questions are where the fracture is located, whether it has moved out of position and whether it remains stable.
Common fracture terms in everyday language
Broken bone = fracture
These terms mean the same thing. A fracture may be partial,
complete, displaced or nondisplaced.
“Hairline crack”
This usually describes a small or nondisplaced fracture in which
the bone has not shifted significantly out of alignment.
Displaced fracture
The broken portions of the bone have moved, angled, shortened or
rotated away from their normal position.
Direct Orthopedic Access
Skip an Unnecessary Emergency Room Visit When It Is Safe to Do So
Emergency rooms play an essential role in major trauma and true emergencies. However, many isolated arm and leg injuries can be evaluated directly in our orthopedic office.
Calling us first may allow you to receive a specialist evaluation, appropriate imaging and a treatment plan without spending hours waiting in an emergency department.
Same-day availability depends on the time of the call, office capacity and the nature of the injury.
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Call 404-298-3730
Call as early in the day as possible.
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Tell the front desk it may be a fracture
Use the words “possible broken bone,” “fracture” or
“fracture follow-up.”
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We will prioritize the request
We will make every effort to arrange a same-day visit,
time permitting.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for major trauma or an obvious emergency.
This includes bone visible through the skin, an open wound over a
fracture, uncontrolled bleeding, a cold or pale hand or foot, loss of
circulation, severe progressive numbness, severe deformity, head or neck
trauma, chest or abdominal injury, or an injury caused by a major
high-speed accident.
Causes of Broken Bones
How Fractures Happen
Fractures can result from a major accident or from an everyday fall. The amount of force required to break a bone depends on the direction of the impact, the patient's age, bone quality and the health of the surrounding tissues.
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Sports Injuries
Contact, twisting and high-speed changes in direction may injure the bone and nearby ligaments, tendons or cartilage at the same time.
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Vehicle and Workplace Trauma
Car accidents, motorcycle accidents and occupational injuries may produce higher-energy fractures with greater soft-tissue damage.
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Twisting Injuries
A planted foot or trapped limb can create rotational force and cause a spiral or angled fracture pattern.
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Stress and Repetitive Loading
Repeated impact may gradually overwhelm the bone and cause a stress fracture without one major traumatic event.
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Weakened Bone
Osteoporosis and other conditions that reduce bone strength can allow a relatively minor fall to cause a significant fracture.
Complete Injury Assessment
A Fracture Is About More Than the Bone
The fracture seen on an X-ray is only one part of the injury. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and skin surround every bone. These structures can be injured at the same time and may influence both the treatment plan and the timing of surgery.
Soft-Tissue Evaluation
Swelling, bruising, open wounds and damaged muscle can affect whether a fracture can be treated immediately or should first be protected while the surrounding tissues recover.
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Skin condition and swelling
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Muscles and tendons
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Ligaments and joint stability
Nerve, Circulation and Joint Evaluation
Fractures near a joint require particular attention. Restoring alignment and the joint surface can help reduce stiffness, instability, abnormal loading and future arthritis.
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Circulation to the hand or foot
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Sensation and nerve function
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Joint involvement and cartilage injury
Alignment and Stability
Nondisplaced vs. Displaced Fractures
Whether the bone remains aligned is one of the most important factors in selecting treatment. The fracture location, stability, joint involvement and the patient's activity level are also considered.
Nondisplaced Fractures
The bone is cracked or broken but remains in acceptable alignment. This is often what patients mean when they say “hairline fracture.”
Many stable nondisplaced fractures can heal with protection in a splint, cast or brace and close follow-up with repeat X-rays.
Nondisplaced does not automatically mean minor. A fracture near a joint or important tendon attachment may still require specialist care.
Displaced Fractures
The broken portions of the bone have moved away from their normal position. The bone may be angled, rotated, shortened or separated.
Treatment may require repositioning the fragments, called a reduction. Some fractures can then be held in a cast, while others require surgical fixation.
The goal is to restore alignment and hold it securely while healing occurs.
Why Prompt Fracture Evaluation Matters
Bone healing begins soon after an injury. Swelling also changes rapidly, and some fracture fragments can shift after the initial examination. Early orthopedic evaluation allows the fracture to be protected, alignment to be assessed and the safest treatment window to be determined.
Waiting too long can allow a fracture to begin healing in an undesirable position, make reduction more difficult or delay necessary treatment. That is why suspected fractures receive priority scheduling in our office.
Call 404-298-3730 and tell the front desk you may have a fracture. We will make every effort to see you the same day, time permitting.
Not every fracture should be operated on immediately.
Some injuries require urgent surgery, while others are temporarily
splinted so swelling or damaged skin can improve. Prompt evaluation
allows the surgeon to determine the safest timing.
Modern Fracture Fixation
Plates, Screws and Intramedullary Nails
No single implant is best for every fracture. Our surgeons select the fixation method according to the bone involved, fracture pattern, bone quality, soft-tissue condition and the forces the repaired bone must withstand.
Plates and Screws
A plate is positioned along the outside of the bone and secured with screws. Plates allow precise control of alignment and are frequently used near joints and for many upper-extremity fractures.
Intramedullary Nails
A strong metal rod is inserted through the hollow center of a long bone and secured with locking screws. Nails are commonly considered for fractures of the femur, tibia and humerus.
Independent Screws
Screws may be used without a plate to compress and stabilize selected fracture fragments. They may also be combined with plates or nails.
Other treatments may include casting, bracing, closed reduction, pins,
wires, external fixation or bone-grafting techniques. Treatment is
individualized for the fracture rather than selected from a
one-size-fits-all protocol.
Upper and Lower Extremity Care
Broken Bones and Fractures We Evaluate and Treat
Our orthopedic surgeons treat fractures throughout the upper and lower extremities, from common falls and sports injuries to complex fractures involving the major long bones.
Upper-Extremity Fractures
- Clavicle fractures
- Shoulder fractures
- Proximal humerus fractures
- Humeral shaft fractures
- Elbow fractures
- Forearm fractures
- Radius fractures
- Ulna fractures
- Wrist fractures
- Hand and finger fractures
Lower-Extremity Fractures
- Hip-region fractures
- Femur fractures
- Fractures around the knee
- Patella fractures
- Tibial plateau fractures
- Tibial shaft fractures
- Fibula fractures
- Ankle fractures
- Foot fractures
- Toe fractures
Modern Surgical Care
Many Fracture Procedures Can Be Performed Outpatient
Advances in anesthesia, surgical imaging, minimally invasive techniques, fixation technology and postoperative pain control allow many appropriate fracture procedures to be performed at an ambulatory surgery center with discharge home the same day.
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Modern Fixation Options
Access to multiple plate, screw and nail systems allows the fixation to be matched to the individual fracture.
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Same-Day Surgery When Appropriate
Many isolated upper- and lower-extremity fractures can be treated without an overnight hospital stay in carefully selected patients.
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Hospital Access When Needed
Higher-energy injuries, open fractures and medically complex patients may require hospital-based treatment.
Fracture Care FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Bones
Can I get a same-day appointment for a possible fracture?
We make every effort to see suspected fractures the same day, time permitting. Call 404-298-3730 and clearly tell the front desk that you may have a broken bone or need fracture follow-up. Calling earlier in the day provides the best opportunity for a same-day appointment.
Do I have to go to the emergency room for a possible broken bone?
Many isolated arm and leg injuries can be evaluated directly by an orthopedic specialist. Call our office first when the injury appears stable. Major trauma, open wounds, loss of circulation, severe deformity or other emergency warning signs require emergency care.
Is a fracture different from a broken bone?
No. Fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. A fracture may be a small crack, a complete break or a bone that has broken into multiple pieces.
What does a hairline fracture mean?
Patients often use “hairline fracture” to describe a small crack or nondisplaced fracture. Although the bone has not shifted significantly, it still requires appropriate protection and follow-up.
Does every displaced fracture require surgery?
No. Some displaced fractures can be repositioned without an incision and held in a cast. Surgery is considered when alignment cannot be achieved or maintained, the fracture is unstable or the joint or surrounding tissues require repair.
How quickly should a fracture be evaluated?
A suspected fracture should be evaluated promptly. The timing of treatment depends on the fracture pattern, swelling, skin condition, circulation, nerve function and overall medical status.
Can fracture surgery be performed at a surgery center?
Many isolated upper- and lower-extremity fractures can be treated at an outpatient surgery center in properly selected patients. More severe trauma, open injuries or complex medical conditions may require hospital treatment.
Think You Broke a Bone? Call for Same-Day Fracture Care.
Tell our front desk you have a possible fracture or need follow-up after an urgent care or emergency room visit. We will make every effort to see you the same day, time permitting.
Same-day appointments are subject to office hours, appointment capacity,
surgeon availability and the nature of the injury. This page provides
general educational information and does not replace an examination.
Seek emergency care for major trauma, an open wound over a fracture,
exposed bone, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of circulation, a cold or pale
limb, severe progressive numbness or an obvious severe deformity.