OrthoInjury orthoinjury.app

Something happened.
You're not sure if it's the ER.

Tap anything you see, and the page says whether to call 911, go to the ER now, or call for an appointment.

Check the triage guide
Call 911 if
Go to the ER now if
None ticked: call your doctor's office or an urgent care clinic and ask for the soonest visit. If anything above starts, act on it.

The 911 list is MedlinePlus, Broken bone (reviewed 2026-01-14). Nothing you tick is stored or sent. General education, not a diagnosis.

Triage guide

ER now vs. wait for an appointment

Go to the ER now
  • Visible deformity or bone through skin
  • Numbness, weakness, or tingling below injury
  • Severe swelling within 30 minutes of injury
  • Unable to bear any weight on an injured leg
  • Pulsing pain, or the arm or leg turns blue or white
  • Head or neck injury with numbness, weakness, confusion, or any new change in feeling or movement
Can likely wait for an appointment
  • Pain that came on slowly, with no fall or injury
  • Swelling that developed over hours, not minutes
  • You can put weight on it, even if it hurts, and it does not give way
  • A flare-up of joint pain you have had for a long time
  • A bruise, and the arm or leg is its normal shape
  • Pain that is improving, not worsening, over hours

What to do today: call your doctor's office or an urgent care clinic and ask for the soonest visit. If anything in the red list starts, go to the ER.

Example: a rolled ankle. A swollen, painful ankle can be a sprain or a broken bone, and only an exam can tell which. Get urgent care or ER care now if you cannot take four steps on it, the bone hurts when you press on it, your foot is numb, the ankle looks deformed, or the pain is severe or getting worse. If none of these fit, rest, ice, a compression wrap and keeping the foot raised are common first steps. See a clinician if it is not getting better.

Where does it hurt?

Already in a cast or splint?

Is this normal, or call the doctor now?

Call the doctor's office now if
None ticked: none of the AAOS warning signs. For the first 24 to 72 hours keep the arm or leg raised, put ice on the cast, and move the swollen fingers or toes gently and often. Keep it dry. Never push anything inside to scratch, trim it, or take it off yourself.

From AAOS OrthoInfo, Care of Casts and Splints (checked 2026-10-27). Follow your own doctor's instructions first. Nothing you tick is stored or sent.

Common Conditions

12 Conditions, Straight Talk

Knee Osteoarthritis
About 14 million people in the US have symptomatic knee OA (a model estimate: Deshpande 2016, PMID 27014966).
What most people don't know

Knee replacements can wear out over time, so a younger patient is more likely to need a second operation someday. Ask whether a partial replacement fits your knee.

AAOS patient guide
Rotator Cuff Tears
Common with age. Not all tears require surgery.
What most people don't know

Many small tears are treated with PT first. Ask how the decision depends on what you can do, not only on the MRI.

AAOS patient guide
Lumbar Disc Herniation
Many improve with time and non-surgical care.
What most people don't know

Disc changes show up on many MRIs of people without back pain, so a scan finding is not always the cause. Ask how your exam matches your scan.

AAOS patient guide
Hip Osteoarthritis
Hip replacement is a common, well-studied operation.
What most people don't know

Surgeons use different approaches. Ask your surgeon why they use theirs and how many they do, rather than choosing on approach alone.

AAOS patient guide
ACL Injuries
More than 200,000 a year in the US (AAOS OrthoInfo). Return to sport depends on more than surgery.
What most people don't know

In one cohort of 106 athletes after ACL surgery, each month of delay in returning to sport, up to 9 months, was associated with about half the re-injury rate (Grindem 2016, PMID 27162233; one cohort, association). The knee heals on biology's schedule, not yours.

AAOS patient guide
Spinal Stenosis
A common reason for spine surgery in adults over 65.
What most people don't know

How far you can walk before leg pain stops you is a useful thing to track and bring to your visit.

AAOS patient guide
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A common nerve compression in the wrist.
What most people don't know

Night splinting is a common first treatment for mild to moderate symptoms. Ask whether nerve testing is needed before deciding on surgery.

AAOS patient guide
Plantar Fasciitis
Most cases are treated without surgery.
What most people don't know

Stretching and supportive shoes are usual first steps. Ask about the risks of a cortisone shot before you have one.

AAOS patient guide
Meniscus Tears
Among the most common knee injuries — but often misunderstood.
What most people don't know

Among people aged 50 to 90 whose MRI showed a meniscus tear, 61% had no knee pain in the month before (Englund 2008, 991 people, PMID 18784100). A tear on a scan is not always the cause of the pain.

AAOS patient guide
Achilles Tendon Rupture
A dramatic injury with a surprisingly conservative treatment option.
What most people don't know

Some ruptures are treated with a cast or boot instead of surgery. Ask how each choice fits your activity and goals.

AAOS patient guide
Trigger Finger
A common hand condition.
What most people don't know

A steroid injection is a common first treatment. Ask about it before deciding on surgery.

AAOS patient guide
Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive capsulitis: painful and slow, and it often improves on its own over time.
What most people don't know

Treatment usually starts without surgery. Ask what to expect and when to come back.

AAOS patient guide

Where to go next

Not every injury needs a surgeon

Many orthopedic injuries get better with time and physical therapy. Use this as a starting guide, and talk with a clinician about your own situation.

Surgical evaluation
When to see a surgeon
  • Acute ligament rupture (ACL, Achilles)
  • Mechanical locking or giving way
  • Significant trauma with deformity
  • Nerve symptoms (numbness, weakness)
  • Failed 6–12 weeks of conservative care
Find an orthopedic surgeon (Medicare Care Compare)
PT / Recovery
Most injuries start here
  • Gradual-onset joint pain
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation
  • Chronic tendon or overuse conditions
  • Return to sport after injury
  • Maintaining mobility after joint replacement
Track your recovery
Home care support
When recovery happens at home
  • Post-surgical discharge support
  • Older adults recovering from joint replacement
  • Family caregivers coordinating care
  • Long recovery with daily living needs
  • Asking whether an HSA or FSA can pay, case by case
co-op.care, a worker-owned care co-op

Outcome Tracking

What Your Surgeon Should Track

PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) let your surgeon measure how you actually feel and function — not just how you look on imaging. If your practice isn't collecting them, ask why.

PROMIS Physical Function
All orthopedic conditions — measures function, not just pain
PROMIS Pain Interference
All orthopedic conditions — how pain disrupts daily life
KOOS JR
Knee-specific — 7-item validated short form
HOOS JR
Hip-specific — validated short form
If your surgeon isn't tracking these, they may be missing billing codes that fund better follow-up care for you — and they have no objective baseline to measure your recovery against.
For surgeons: SurgeonValue For patients: JointCoach

Surgeon Conversations

5 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

1 "How many of these procedures do you do per year?"
Volume matters. In knee replacement, surgeons who do more of them have fewer complications, though no single cut-off number is proven (a review of the evidence). Ask for the number.
2 "What does your complication rate look like?"
Good surgeons know their numbers and aren't afraid to share them. If the answer is "I've never had a complication," that's a red flag — not a reassurance. Ask specifically about infection rates, re-operation rates, and 90-day readmission rates.
3 "Do you track patient-reported outcomes?"
If they don't measure how patients actually feel, they can't improve — and they can't tell you whether you're recovering normally. PROMIS, KOOS, and HOOS scores at 3, 6, and 12 months are the gold standard. Ask if they use them.
4 "What would you recommend if this were your family member?"
This question cuts through the noise. Watch for hesitation. A surgeon who recommends surgery for their family member is telling you something real. A surgeon who pivots to PT and lifestyle changes for their family member — when they've been recommending surgery to you — is also telling you something real.
5 "What happens if I do nothing?"
The most underasked question in orthopedics. Many conditions improve on their own. Knowing the natural history of your condition — what happens without intervention — is essential context before agreeing to any procedure. Most surgeons won't volunteer this unless you ask.

Further Reading

Resources

OrthoInfo (AAOS)
Patient education from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons — the gold-standard reference. Every condition card on this page links here.
PubMed
38 million+ peer-reviewed articles. Search your condition + "randomized controlled trial" to find the best evidence. No account needed.
SurgeonValue — outcome tracking for orthopedic practices
Surgeons who track PROMIS, KOOS, and HOOS scores can show you your recovery trajectory in real numbers. See which practices use it.
JointCoach — home exercise tracking
Home exercise tracking after joint surgery. Movement tracking runs on your phone, and you bring a record of your progress to your care team.

Medical disclaimer. This site provides general educational information about orthopedic conditions and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your care. In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

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