Abstract

Bone bruises are more frequently detected since magnetic resonance imaging has found wide use in sports medicine practice. Histopathologically, these occult bone lesions consist of microtrabecular fractures, bleeding, infarction and edema that occur in the cancellous bone. Acute or chronic traumatic factors play an extensive role in the etiology. The location of bone bruise may give clues about the mechanism of injury. Soft tissue lesions are mostly associated with bone bruising areas in the involved joint. Recovery periods in bone bruising cases display variability in the literature. Geographic lesions have been shown to heal in a rather long period when compared with reticular lesions and have been claimed to relate with osteoarthritis. Many studies have indicated that bone bruising may have harmful effects on the overlying articular cartilage. Therefore, it is essential to avoid weight bearing activities concerning the involved part of joints in the early post injury periods. Thus, bone bruise resulting from sports injury prolongs the return to sports activity as well. There are still numerous unexplained points related to bone bruise and extensive studies are needed to clarify this rather new common problem in sports medicine practice.