Your physician will be able to conduct tests such as X-Rays or bone scans to determine for certain if you have a sprain or a fracture. Keep in mind that a sprain is an injury to the ligaments (tissues that connect your bones), whereas a fracture is an injury to your bone. Sprains heal with time and rest, but a fracture will require some type of treatment (splint, cast, crutches, wheelchair and/or surgery).