When a bone breaks, it can be an intense experience filled with pain that can range from mild to excruciating and present visual signs of a physical injury, such as deformity and discoloration. Aside from contusion, disfigurement and physical discomfort, other common signs and symptoms of a broken bone include: - Loss of Motion — The loss of motion, including difficulty moving a limb or using a joint’s full range of motion, is an immediate sign of a broken bone. An injury in the hand, wrist, ankle or foot can make it difficult or even impossible to move the broken limb. - Crepitation — When a person with a broken bone moves, the fractured bones can rub together, resulting in a crackling sound known as crepitation, or crepitus. This is best described as a grating, grinding or crunching sensation around the affected joint or bone. In some cases, crepitation may not be the result of broken bones; it can also result from bone rubbing against cartilage, which is common after a soft-tissue injury, as well as prolonged mobility or hyperextension. - Swelling — When an injury occurs, the body triggers an increase in the movement of white blood cells and fluids to the affected area, causing it to become swollen.