Foot and ankle specific urgent care.

For most suspected broken toes, neither is the best choice. Urgent care can confirm a fracture but cannot deliver definitive treatment, so you typically end up at a specialist anyway. The ER is appropriate only when there is an open wound, bone visible through skin, severe deformity, or loss of circulation. For a closed broken toe with normal circulation, calling a foot and ankle specialist directly is faster, less expensive, and gets you a treatment plan the same day when our schedule allows.

You cannot reliably tell at home. Both fractures and sprains cause swelling, bruising, and pain. Some signs that lean toward a fracture include hearing a snap or pop at the time of injury, immediate severe pain, inability to bear any weight, or visible deformity. The only reliable way to know is an exam plus imaging. Call (406) 256-0077 and we will evaluate it the same day when our schedule allows. If you are showing red flags (open wound, exposed bone, numbness, loss of pulse), go to the ER.

If your injury is foot or ankle specific and not life-threatening, a podiatrist is usually the better starting point. Urgent care providers are generalists. They can diagnose obvious fractures, but subtle ligament tears, cartilage injuries, and tendon damage routinely get missed and turn into chronic problems. Calling a foot and ankle surgeon first means specialist-level evaluation, definitive treatment the same day when possible, and no detour through a referral chain.

Urgent care is staffed by general practitioners. The ER will make sure you're alive and refer you out. We're foot and ankle specific. When you come in, you'll see a board-certified surgeon of the foot or ankle. That means an accurate diagnosis the first time, and a treatment plan from someone who actually treats these injuries every day.

Same-day availability is reserved for acute foot and ankle injuries. This typically includes: sprained ankles, suspected or confirmed ankle fractures, broken toes, painful or infected ingrown toenails, Achilles tendon injuries, sudden foot trauma, and acute sports injuries in children (such as heel pain during sports seasons). Same-day slots fill quickly. Call us first so we can confirm availability.

It depends on our schedule and the nature of your injury. For acute injuries that qualify, we prioritize same-day or next-day appointments whenever possible. Call (406) 256-0077 and describe what happened. The front desk will let you know immediately when we can fit you in.

You can call us directly to schedule. If your insurance plan requires a referral, our front desk can help you understand those requirements when you call.

Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and any imaging you may have already had (X-rays from urgent care, for example). If you are in a splint or boot from another provider, bring that too. Wear clothing that allows easy access to the injured area.