What it means
The word describes several findings. In a joint, crepitus is grating felt or heard on movement, as in osteoarthritisos-tee-oh-ar-THRY-tisA long-term joint disease in which the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears away.oste/o bonearthr/o joint-itis inflammationFull entry when roughened surfaces rub. In a fracture, it is the grating of bone ends against each other. Subcutaneous crepitus (subcutaneous emphysema) is a crackling feeling like crisp rice cereal under the skin when air leaks into the tissues, as around a chest tube or after chest injury.
For the nurse
Do not move a suspected fracture to test for crepitus. Mark the edges of new crackling under the skin with a pen and report it, especially if it is spreading or near the neck.
At a glance
| Spanish | crepitación |
|---|---|
| Also written | crepitation |
Related terms
osteoarthritis
A long-term joint disease in which the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears away.
deformity
A body part that is out of its normal shape or position.
dislocation
An injury in which the ends of bones that meet at a joint are forced out of their normal position.