Local orthopedic clinic talks winter conditions and falling

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The weather outside is frightful and the and snow and icy conditions make falling and hurting yourself a reality. While an injury may require professional care, a trip to the emergency room is less than desirable.

That’s why Xpress Ortho Care on Maple Avenue said you should come to them. Xpress Ortho Care is a walk-in clinic that is open seven days a week servicing all orthopedic needs. Krista Berger, a Physician Assistant at the clinic said this time of year patients often find themselves visiting with injuries from slipping on ice.

“The three most common injuries that we see due to, you know, icy conditions and falls would be: falls with an outstretched hand and a broken wrist, we would also have like turned in ankles – broken ankles, and then falls onto the hips, so hip fractures.”

The clinic is also well versed in sports injuries. Many parents bring their athletes there after being injured while playing.

“We’re welcome to see any sports injuries including: concussion evaluations, again sprains, strains, broken bones concerns,” said Berger. “To really be evaluated to see, you know, if it is a soft tissue injury verses if it’s a broken bone and may need further imaging and repair by a surgeon.”

Berger said there are some advantages to visiting the clinic instead of heading to the emergency room including avoiding contact with other illnesses and paying less for care. The clinic does concussion evaluations, deals with broken bones, and sprains and strains. But she also said it’s important to know when to come to them and when to go to the E.R..

“Basically, when you would need to go to the emergency room and not come see us would be anything that you would have a bone sticking out of the skin or even if you fell and got knocked out that would be something where you would really want to go to the emergency room,” said Berger. “Other than that we are able to take care of all of your needs and evaluate you and treat you appropriately.”

In addition to patients with severe broken bones, Berger said the elderly may also want to go straight to the emergency room if they sustain an injury.

“If you have an inclination that you cannot move that leg, you cannot bear any weight on that, the elderly are a little bit of a different patient population where that might be an instance where you would want to go to the emergency room.”

Berger said while it’s not suggested to solely care for injuries at home you can utilize the rice method for smaller injuries. That method includes: rest, ice, compression, and elevation, with ice being the best option. Xpress Ortho Care accepts all major insurance. You can call the office or visit their website to be sure your policy is accepted.