Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFracture vs. BruiseFracture SymptomsBruise SymptomsDiagnosisFracture TreatmentBruise Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Fracture vs. Bruise
Fracture Symptoms
Bruise Symptoms
Diagnosis
Fracture Treatment
Bruise Treatment
The main difference between a fractured bone and a bone bruise is that a fracture results in an actual break in the bone and a bone bruise does not. However, the two have similar symptoms and causes, so it can be hard to tell if a bone isfracturedor bruised without a physical examination or medical imaging (such as anX-rayormagnetic resonance imaging).
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Fracture vs. Bone Bruise
The main difference between a bone fracture and a bone bruise is its severity. Bone bruises are far less severe and involve less tissue damage.
With that said, there is often a fine line between what might be considered a fracture or bruise, particularly when you have a smaller break like a hairline fracture (also known as astress fracture).
Bone Fracture
Abone fracture, also called a “broken bone,” occurs when a bone is damaged to the point where it cracks or breaks. Fractures range from relatively minor cracks, such as a hairline fracture, to a severecompound fracturewhere the broken end of a bone penetrates the skin.
What distinguishes a bone fracture is the amount of tissue that is damaged. This not only includes the hard outer shell of the bone, called theperiosteum, but may also involve the spongy interior, calledcancellous bone.
With a bone fracture, the damage is extensive enough to be seen on an X-ray.
Bone Bruise
Even so, these “micro-cracks” can cause the pooling of blood, known as ahematoma. There may also be swelling between the bone and overlyingcartilage.
If the hematoma develops in the periosteum, it is called asubperiosteal hematoma. If it occurs in the softer center of the bone, it is called anintraosseous hematoma.Those developing between articulated joints where there is bone and cartilage are commonly calledsubchondral lesions.
Bone bruises are more commonly seen withmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an imaging tool that is best able to detect soft tissue injuries.
Although bone bruises may be less severe than bone fractures, they are no less concerning. This is because bone bruises can take a long time to heal and, unless properly treated, can compromise the bone and lead to an overt fracture.
Symptoms of Fracture
The symptoms of a fracture may vary depending on the extent and location of the break. In some cases, the break may be obvious or it may be so subtle that it is hard to recognize as a break.
Common symptoms of a bone fracture include:
Symptoms of Bone Bruise
Symptoms of a bone bruise may be harder to recognize and, depending on its location, can easily be mistaken for astrain(involving muscles or tendons), asprain(involving ligaments), or aruptured ligamentortendon.
Symptoms of a bone bruise include:
When to Seek Emergency CareGo to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center if:There is extreme pain.The injury involves the head or spine.The fracture impacts a large bone, like your thigh bone.You cannot move a joint or bear weight.The bone is visibly misshapen or has penetrated the skin.A joint is visibly misaligned.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center if:There is extreme pain.The injury involves the head or spine.The fracture impacts a large bone, like your thigh bone.You cannot move a joint or bear weight.The bone is visibly misshapen or has penetrated the skin.A joint is visibly misaligned.
Go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care center if:
Imaging tests are also helpful to differentiate between a fracture and a bone bruise. An X-ray can reveal a fracture, but an MRI is necessary to identify a bone bruise.
Treatment for Fractures
Initial treatment for a minor fracture usually starts with theRICE protocol, a self-care method that involves:
Asplintmay also be used to stabilize the bone while healing, while crutches may be recommended to reduce weight-bearing stress if the lower back, pelvis, hip, or lower limbs are affected.
Pain can also be controlled withTylenol (acetaminophen).Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications(NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) are generally avoided as they can promote bleeding.Opioidsare only used for severe fractures, often in combination with acetaminophen.
For more severe bone fractures, theorthopedistmay recommend:
Depending on the extent and location of a fracture, healing can take as little as six weeks or require months of recovery and rehabilitation time.
Treatment for Bone Bruise
The treatment for a bone bruise is comparable to treatment for a fracture. The RICE method is also recommended as the first-line approach. As with fractures, you may be advised to avoid NSAIDs which can make a hematoma worse and slow healing.
Depending on the location of the bruise, a splint, functional brace, or cast may be recommended. This is especially true if the bruise is in a location vulnerable to breakage or you have an underlying condition (like osteoporosis orosteopenia) that undermines the integrity of bones. Crutches may also be advised.
Most bone bruises heal within four to eight weeks.
Summary
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beaufort Memorial Hospital.Contusions, sprains and fractures: what’s the difference?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Hart NH, Newton RU, Tan J, et al.Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement.J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2020;20(3):347–371.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone bruise.Gorbachova T, Amber I, Beckmann NM, et al.Nomenclature of subchondral nonneoplastic bone lesions.AJR Am J Roentgenol.2019 Nov;213(5):963-982. doi:10.2214/AJR.19.21571Cedars Sinai.Bone bruise.Pederson DR, El-Khoury GY, Thedens DR.Bone contusion progression from traumatic knee injury: association of rate of contusion resolution with injury severity.Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jan 27;8:9–15. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S118811MedlinePlus.Broken bone.Lisowska B, Kosson D, Domaracka K.Positives and negatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in bone healing: the effects of these drugs on bone repair.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:1809-1814. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S164565National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).6. Initial pain management. In:Fractures (Non-Complex): Assessment and Management. London (UK): NICE; 2016 Feb.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beaufort Memorial Hospital.Contusions, sprains and fractures: what’s the difference?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Hart NH, Newton RU, Tan J, et al.Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement.J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2020;20(3):347–371.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone bruise.Gorbachova T, Amber I, Beckmann NM, et al.Nomenclature of subchondral nonneoplastic bone lesions.AJR Am J Roentgenol.2019 Nov;213(5):963-982. doi:10.2214/AJR.19.21571Cedars Sinai.Bone bruise.Pederson DR, El-Khoury GY, Thedens DR.Bone contusion progression from traumatic knee injury: association of rate of contusion resolution with injury severity.Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jan 27;8:9–15. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S118811MedlinePlus.Broken bone.Lisowska B, Kosson D, Domaracka K.Positives and negatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in bone healing: the effects of these drugs on bone repair.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:1809-1814. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S164565National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).6. Initial pain management. In:Fractures (Non-Complex): Assessment and Management. London (UK): NICE; 2016 Feb.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital.Contusions, sprains and fractures: what’s the difference?American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Hart NH, Newton RU, Tan J, et al.Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement.J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2020;20(3):347–371.University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone bruise.Gorbachova T, Amber I, Beckmann NM, et al.Nomenclature of subchondral nonneoplastic bone lesions.AJR Am J Roentgenol.2019 Nov;213(5):963-982. doi:10.2214/AJR.19.21571Cedars Sinai.Bone bruise.Pederson DR, El-Khoury GY, Thedens DR.Bone contusion progression from traumatic knee injury: association of rate of contusion resolution with injury severity.Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jan 27;8:9–15. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S118811MedlinePlus.Broken bone.Lisowska B, Kosson D, Domaracka K.Positives and negatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in bone healing: the effects of these drugs on bone repair.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:1809-1814. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S164565National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).6. Initial pain management. In:Fractures (Non-Complex): Assessment and Management. London (UK): NICE; 2016 Feb.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital.Contusions, sprains and fractures: what’s the difference?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).
Hart NH, Newton RU, Tan J, et al.Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement.J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2020;20(3):347–371.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone bruise.
Gorbachova T, Amber I, Beckmann NM, et al.Nomenclature of subchondral nonneoplastic bone lesions.AJR Am J Roentgenol.2019 Nov;213(5):963-982. doi:10.2214/AJR.19.21571
Cedars Sinai.Bone bruise.
Pederson DR, El-Khoury GY, Thedens DR.Bone contusion progression from traumatic knee injury: association of rate of contusion resolution with injury severity.Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Jan 27;8:9–15. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S118811
MedlinePlus.Broken bone.
Lisowska B, Kosson D, Domaracka K.Positives and negatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in bone healing: the effects of these drugs on bone repair.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:1809-1814. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S164565
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).6. Initial pain management. In:Fractures (Non-Complex): Assessment and Management. London (UK): NICE; 2016 Feb.
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