bone injury

Bone is very strong, but it is also relatively rigid so that if it yields at all, it tends to fracture. The sensation of pain is confined to the outer membrane lining the bone (the periosteum). Therefore, unless this part is damaged, some bone disorders may go unrecognized. However, pain is severe if the periosteum is even slightly stretched (e.g. by a stress fracture).

Complete fractures of bone are usually fairly obvious, either from external examination or from an X-ray. Stress fractures, however, are much more difficult to deal with, and often require a bone scan to confirm diagnosis. A bone scan uses scintigraphy to examine the condition of a bone. Scintigraphy is a technique in which a small dose of a radioactive tracer is introduced into the body part to be examined. A scintillation counter helps to produce a picture (a scintigram) of the distribution of the tracer in internal parts of the body.

Common bone injuries in sport include epiphysitis, fractures, and stress fractures. Although bone is made of a hard material, it is relatively rigid making it strongest in resisting compression and weakest in resisting shear forces. Sensation is confined to the periosteum, so unless this structure is damaged, disorders of the bone can be painless. However, pain is severe if the periosteum is even slightly damaged (e.g. by a stress fracture).