General
Bridges can occur more or less frequently on almost every bone in the body. These can be caused by injuries or signs of fatigue. Certain diseases can also increase the risk of fractures.
In most cases, an external force acting on the bone is the reason for a bone fracture. How the bone breaks in the end depends on many factors. Particularly important is the amount of force applied and the shape of the object acting on the bone.
For example, a bone fracture that occurs during sports typically takes a different form than a fracture diagnosed after a serious car accident. Depending on the individual situation, the affected bone can break into different parts. A large number of parts is also referred to as a comminuted fracture.
These are particularly common after a blunt and broad violent impact on the bone. If a small piece of bone has been separated from the main fragment, we speak of a bone splinter. These occur mainly in connection with fractures. A bone splinter can cause problems due to its unfavorable position and should be treated differently depending on its individual location. Individual consultation on the treatment options for an existing bone splinter is best carried out by an orthopedic specialist, as they are considered experts in the field of bone fractures and bone splintering.
Symptoms of bone chipping
The symptoms of an existing bone fragment can vary greatly. The type and intensity of the symptoms depend primarily on the size of the splinter, the affected bone, and the location of the bone fragment. In many cases, symptoms of the bone fragment are overshadowed by other symptoms caused by the underlying injury.
This can result in small bone fragments not being detected initially. Especially when fractures occur simultaneously, which affect the entire bone, severe pain is the main symptom. There may also be bruising and swelling of the skin in the area of the injury.
Depending on the bone to which the splinter belongs, movement restrictions and pain during movement can occur. Particularly in places where nerves and blood vessels run close to the bone, there are more frequent side effects such as loss of sensitivity, which can be caused by damage to the nerve by the underlying injury, but also by direct impairment by the bone fragment. In rare cases, the bone splinter can cause injuries to the vessels with heavy bleeding as a result.
