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Bone injury
- A bone bruise is a bone injury. It’s similar to a bruise you might get on the surface of your skin. But it’s more serious than a mark left over from roughhousing with your kids or playing pickup basketball. Healthcare providers sometimes refer to bone bruises as bone contusions.
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/bone-bruise-bone-contusion
People also ask
What is the difference between a fracture and a bone bruise?
What does a bone bruise mean?
What causes a fracture & a bruise?
Can you get a bone bruise?
How do you know if a fracture is a bone bruise?
What causes bone bruising?
- Overview
- What are the symptoms of a bone bruise?
- What are the risk factors for bone bruises?
- When should you see your doctor?
- How are bone bruises treated?
- What is the outlook?
- Tips for keeping your bones strong and healthy
Bone bruises occur with an injury to the surface of the bone and can cause a bruise to appear on your skin. The pain tends to last longer than with typical bruises.
When you think of a bruise, you probably picture a black-and-blue mark on your skin. That familiar discoloration is the result of blood leaking beneath the surface of your skin after you’ve injured a blood vessel.
A bone contusion, or bone bruise, happens when you have a small injury on the surface of a bone. The discoloration appears as blood and other fluids build up. A fracture, on the other hand, involves damage to a deeper area of bone.
It’s possible to bruise any bone, but it’s more likely to happen to bones that are close to your skin’s surface.
It’s easy to assume you have a regular everyday bruise if your skin looks black, blue, or purple. Your injury may run a little deeper, though. Symptoms that suggest you may have a bone bruise include:
•stiffness
•swelling of the joint
•tenderness and pain lasting longer than a usual bruise
•trouble using an injured joint
A bruise involving your knee can lead to a buildup of fluid on the knee, which can be painful. Depending on how the injury happened, you might also have damage to nearby ligaments.
Bone bruises are fairly common. Anyone can get one. The bones that you’re most likely to bruise are the ones in your knees and heels.
A bone bruise is usually the result of a direct hit to the bone, which can occur during fall, accident, or bump during a sports event. You can also bruise your bone if you twist your ankle or wrist.
You might be more prone to bone bruises if one or more of the following applies to you:
•You’re active in sports, especially high-impact sports.
•You don’t wear proper protective equipment.
•Your job is physically demanding.
When you get a bone bruise, it’s hard to tell if it’s related to a more serious problem that needs treatment. It’s always a good idea to get a doctor’s opinion.
Seek prompt medical attention if any of the following occurs:
•The swelling won’t go down.
•The swelling is getting worse.
•The pain is increasing, and over-the-counter pain relievers aren’t helping.
•Part of your body, such as your fingers or toes, are turning blue, cold, and numb.
For a minor bone bruise, your doctor may recommend rest, ice, and pain relievers. They may suggest that you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aleve or ibuprofen.
If the bone bruise is in your leg or foot, elevate your leg to help ease swelling. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes a few times per day. Don’t put ice directly on your skin. Use a towel or an ice pack.
You may also have to avoid certain physical activities and sports until you’re fully healed. Relatively minor bone bruises can start to get better within a few weeks. The more severe ones can take several months to heal.
Injury to a joint may require a brace to keep the joint still while it heals. If you need a brace, splint, or crutches, use them as your doctor prescribes and follow up as your doctor recommends.
Bone injuries can take longer to heal if you smoke. Depending on the extent of your injury, a physical therapist may be able to show you how to move your injured joint so that you don’t cause more damage.
You may need further diagnostic testing if your injury doesn’t heal.
You may have to rest for some amount of time, but it’s important to allow your bone to heal fully. Returning to your regular activities too soon can make things worse.
Although there’s a great variation in recovery time, it usually takes a few months to heal. Most of the time, there are no lasting problems. Complications are rare unless a more extensive injury occurred.
Bone bruises aren’t always preventable. Certain lifestyle choices can help you’re your bones strong and healthy and improve their ability to heal. Follow these tips to keep your bones healthy:
•Eat a well-balanced diet.
•Get regular physical activity. Activity is good for your bone health, particularly weight-bearing exercise.
•Always use the recommended protective equipment when playing sports.
•Bones tend to weaken with age, so talk to your doctor about bone health at your annual physical.
•Don’t smoke. It may weaken your bones.
Aug 11, 2022 · A bone bruise is thought to occur when there is a microscopic fracturing of the internal bone structure. While these microfractures don't significantly weaken the bone, they can cause bleeding and inflammation within the bone.
May 5, 2023 · The main difference is that a fracture results in a break in the bone, while a bone bruise creates tiny cracks in the bone. Healthcare providers can tell the difference by using X-rays and MRIs. In most cases, bone bruises and fractures will heal within a month or two with conservative treatment.
Apr 8, 2024 · Bone bruises occur when an injury or force impacts the bone, causing fluid or blood to build up in the bone marrow. This can lead to pain and swelling, and may cause...
What is a bone bruise? [edit | edit source] A bone bruise is a type of bone injury. Other examples of bone injuries include stress fractures, osteochondral fractures and a variety of different patterns of bone fractures.
May 9, 2023 · A bone bruise is an injury to the bone, or more likely the periosteum surrounding the bone caused by direct impact or trauma. This might be from a collision with an opponent, being kicked, or being struck by a ball, puck, hockey stick or another sporting implement.
