Signs And Symptoms Of A Fracture1,2

The symptoms of bone fracture are easily noticeable and can cause the following symptoms:

Icon of knee pain

Swelling Or Pain In The Injured Limb

Icon of knee fracture

Deformity In An Injured Limb

Icon of a man with a fractured leg and crutches

Difficulty Moving Injured Limb

Icon of fall

Bone Protruding From The Skin

Fracture Diagnosis

To accurately diagnose a bone fracture, the doctor will examine your injuries and may recommend the following diagnostic tests:2  Talk to your doctor to know more about the recommended diagnostic tests for fracture detection.

Doctor explaining X-ray to a patient

X-Ray For Fractures:

X-ray provides a two-dimensional (2D) image of the bone and helps in detecting bone fractures.2 It is the first line of diagnostic testing.2 However, certain fractures, like stress fractures, can sometimes require several weeks or a month to be visible on an X-ray.3 

A doctor/medical technician performing a scan of a patient

MRI For Fractures:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used to detect fractures and subtle injuries that are not spotted on an X-ray.3

A patient undergoing a CT scan

CT or CAT Scan For Fractures:

Computed Tomography (CT) or Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan is a diagnostic tool that produces detailed images of bone using a computer and x-rays.2 It helps in fracture diagnosis and other complications such as blood clots, and soft tissue injuries, among others.4

A patient undergoing a bone scan

Bone Scan:

Bone scans are sometimes recommended to inspect fractures and to understand the cause of continuous unexplained bone pain.2,5 Before the bone scan, the doctor will inject a radioactive material, which will show up on the scanned image as a bright white spot. Thus, helping the doctor detect bone fractures and other bone diseases.3