A bone spur is a smooth, bony growth that forms over a long period of time. Many bone spurs—or osteophytes, as they’re formally known—cause no symptoms at all, and you may not know you have one until it shows up during a routine imaging study. Joint damage from osteoarthritis is the most common cause of bone spurs. As osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones, your body attempts to repair the loss by creating bone spurs near the damaged area. In general, the risk of bone spurs is higher in people who have arthritis.