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A bone bruise is a painful injury that doesn’t show up on an X-ray. It can last up to a month and is often misdiagnosed as a fracture. Treatment is usually not necessary, but ice and rest can speed up healing. Prevention is difficult, but immediate glazing of the area can reduce recovery time.
A bone bruise refers to a bone injury that does not show up on an X-ray scan. While no fractures are present, a bruise on a bone can be an extremely painful injury and can last up to a month in some cases. Although the injury is painful, there are usually no long-lasting side effects, and the problem often goes away without any treatment. There are, however, more serious conditions which are also called bone bruises as bone injuries caused by trauma. These types of bruises are often associated with serious injuries such as ligament ruptures.
Because the symptoms of a bruise are similar to those of a fracture, it’s not uncommon for them to be misdiagnosed. Both are very painful and often cause significant swelling in the area. With modern x-ray technology, however, it’s usually possible to tell the difference between the two by looking for evidence of a fracture. In the past, a bone bruise was commonly treated as a fracture. Even so, it’s often a good idea to scan a bruise to check for breaks.
There are several ways a bruise can occur. The most common is through direct trauma. For example, severe impact from falling or being hit during a sports match can often cause a bruise to develop. Regular bruises go away relatively quickly, but a bone bruise often takes longer to heal. The reason a bone bruise occurs is that the top layer of bone is damaged with many small cracks rather than a single fracture.
Treatment for a bone bruise is often not necessary as the symptoms will naturally disappear over time. There are, however, methods that can speed up the healing process. For example, ice on the affected area can reduce swelling and shorten the time it takes for the bruise to heal. Resting the injured area is also essential for a quick and complete recovery.
Preventing a bone bruise is often difficult because these injuries happen accidentally and suddenly. While true prevention is impossible, it is possible to reduce the severity immediately after an impact occurs. Glazing the area for about 10 minutes, being careful not to cause frostbite, will often reduce overall recovery time. If the injury occurs during a sporting competition, the athlete must stop playing immediately to avoid further injury.
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