A device for detecting bone fractures using backscattered light, including: a transmitter for generating an incident beam of near infrared light, a receiver for receiving a backscattered beam of near infrared light, an analysing device for measuring an insertion loss and an insertion phase difference, and a controller adapted to carrying out a method of detecting bone fractures using backscattered light, wherein the controller is adapted to control the transmitter, receiver, analysing device to perform the method, the method comprising the steps of: generating an incident beam of near infrared light having an incident amplitude, A I, and an incident phase, φ I, associated therewith; directing the incident beam of near infrared light toward a body part of a patient; receiving a backscattered beam of near infrared light from the body part of the patient, the backscattered beam of near infrared light having a backscattered amplitude, A BS, and a backscattered phase, φ BS, associated therewith; measuring the backscattered amplitude and the backscattered phase of the backscattered beam of near infrared light; calculating an insertion loss, I L, as I L = 20 log A BS A I; calculating an insertion phase difference, I PD, as I PD = φ BS - φ I; and determining that the body part of the patient has a bone fracture if the insertion loss is above a first loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is below a first phase threshold, otherwise determining that the body part of the patient is healthy if the insertion loss is below a second loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is above a second phase threshold, and determining that the body part of the patient has an edema if the insertion loss is between the first loss threshold and the second loss threshold, and if the insertion phase difference is between the first phase threshold and the second phase threshold. a transmitter for generating an incident beam of near infrared light, a receiver for receiving a backscattered beam of near infrared light, an analysing device for measuring an insertion loss and an insertion phase difference, and a controller adapted to carrying out a method of detecting bone fractures using backscattered light, wherein the controller is adapted to control the transmitter, receiver, analysing device to perform the method, the method comprising the steps of: generating an incident beam of near infrared light having an incident amplitude, A I, and an incident phase, φ I, associated therewith; directing the incident beam of near infrared light toward a body part of a patient; receiving a backscattered beam of near infrared light from the body part of the patient, the backscattered beam of near infrared light having a backscattered amplitude, A BS, and a backscattered phase, φ BS, associated therewith; measuring the backscattered amplitude and the backscattered phase of the backscattered beam of near infrared light; calculating an insertion loss, I L, as I L = 20 log A BS A I; calculating an insertion phase difference, I PD, as I PD = φ BS - φ I; and determining that the body part of the patient has a bone fracture if the insertion loss is above a first loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is below a first phase threshold, otherwise determining that the body part of the patient is healthy if the insertion loss is below a second loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is above a second phase threshold, and determining that the body part of the patient has an edema if the insertion loss is between the first loss threshold and the second loss threshold, and if the insertion phase difference is between the first phase threshold and the second phase threshold. generating an incident beam of near infrared light having an incident amplitude, A I, and an incident phase, φ I, associated therewith; directing the incident beam of near infrared light toward a body part of a patient; receiving a backscattered beam of near infrared light from the body part of the patient, the backscattered beam of near infrared light having a backscattered amplitude, A BS, and a backscattered phase, φ BS, associated therewith; measuring the backscattered amplitude and the backscattered phase of the backscattered beam of near infrared light; calculating an insertion loss, I L, as I L = 20 log A BS A I; calculating an insertion phase difference, I PD, as I PD = φ BS - φ I; and determining that the body part of the patient has a bone fracture if the insertion loss is above a first loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is below a first phase threshold, otherwise determining that the body part of the patient is healthy if the insertion loss is below a second loss threshold and the insertion phase difference is above a second phase threshold, and determining that the body part of the patient has an edema if the insertion loss is between the first loss threshold and the second loss threshold, and if the insertion phase difference is between the first phase threshold and the second phase threshold.