When you think of a broken bone, you probably picture an obvious fracture with visible deformities and a lot of pain. But some broken bones can be sneaky. Unfortunately, hidden fractures can cause multiple problems, including delayed treatment and potential complications.
Our team at Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C., with locations in Dalles and Hood River, Oregon, specializes in diagnosing and treating fractures of all types, including the stealthy ones that sneak up on you.
In this blog, we break down the signs of a potential fracture and what you can do about it.
When you fall or meet an object with force, the impact can damage the blood vessels under your skin and in your muscle tissue, causing the formation of a bruise. The same can happen to your bones.
Trauma, compression, stress, and disease can lead to multiple tiny cracks that cause blood to leak into the surrounding tissue. When blood pools below the hard outer shell of your bone, we call it a “bone bruise” or a “bone contusion.”
The symptoms of bone bruises and mild fractures are similar:
However, bone bruises often form a hard lump under the skin, and bone fractures can cause numbness and tingling. But those differences alone can’t confirm a diagnosis. For that, you’ll need professional imaging tests.
While X-rays clearly show bone fractures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals bone bruises.
You can easily identify a compound (open) fracture that breaks through your skin. If you’ve been in a car accident or other traumatic event, you can reasonably suspect a broken bone. But your bones can break or crack slightly without an apparent reason.
Osteoporosis, a disease that robs your bone density and makes it more porous, makes you susceptible to fractures from mild pressure, like coughing, sneezing, or bumping into furniture.
Overusing your limbs can also lead to hidden bone breaks. The most common types of hard-to-detect bone fractures are:
Hairline fractures are small, thin cracks typically in weight-bearing bones like legs, ankles, and feet.
Although osteoporosis is the most common culprit behind compression fractures, you can also get one from trauma or tumors. They usually affect the spinal bones (vertebrae).
You don’t have to experience a severe accident to break a bone — cumulative trauma can crack your bones, too. Athletes and others who perform repetitive movements often sustain stress fractures without knowing it.
If you suspect a bone fracture or bone bruise, don’t ignore it. Some hidden bone injuries can be challenging to heal, causing long-term problems; some can lead to blood clots, and the lack of blood flow to the area could result in bone death.
For expert, individualized care for bone fractures and other orthopedic issues, call our office or request an appointment online today.
