Bruise

Definition

A bruise is an area of skin discoloration. A bruise occurs when small blood vessels break and leak their contents into the soft tissue beneath the skin.

Considerations

There are three types of bruises:

1. Subcutaneous -- beneath the skin,
2. Intramuscular -- within the belly of the underlying muscle
3. Periosteal -- bone bruise

Bruises can last from days to months, with the bone bruise being the most severe and painful.

Causes

Bruises are often caused by falls, sports injuries, car accidents, or blows received by other people or objects.

If you take a blood thinner, like aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin), you are likely to bruise more easily.

Symptoms

The main symptoms are pain, swelling, and skin discoloration. The bruise begins as a pinkish red color that can be very tender to touch. It is often difficult to use the muscle that has been bruised. For example, a deep thigh bruise is painful when you walk or run.

Eventually, the bruise changes to a bluish color, then greenish-yellow, and finally returns to the normal skin color as it heals.

Do Not

• DO NOT attempt to drain the bruise with a needle.
• DO NOT continue running, playing, or otherwise using the painful, bruised part of your body.
• DO NOT ignore the pain or swelling.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if

Call your doctor immediately if you feel extreme pressure in a bruised part or your body, especially if the area is large or very painful. This may be due to a condition known as "compartment syndrome." Increased pressure on the soft tissues and structures beneath the skin can decrease the supply of vital blood and oxygen to the tissues. This is potentially life-threatening and you should receive emergency care promptly.

Also call your doctor if:

• You are bruising spontaneously without any injury, fall, or other reason.
• There are signs of infection around the bruised area including streaks of redness, pus or other drainage, or fever.

First Aid

1. Place ice on the bruise to help it heal faster and to reduce swelling. Place the ice in a cloth -- DO NOT place ice directly on the skin. Apply the ice for up to 15 minutes per hour.
2. Keep the bruised area raised above the heart, if practical. This helps keep blood from pooling in the bruised tissue.
3. Try to rest the bruised body part by not overworking your muscles in that area.
4. If needed, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help reduce pain.

In the rare instance of "compartment syndrome," surgery frequently needs to be performed to relieve the extreme buildup of pressure.

Prevention

Because bruises are usually the direct result of an injury, the following are important safety recommendations:

• Teach children how to be safe.
• Be mindful to avoid falls around the house. For example, be careful when climbing on ladders or other objects. Avoid standing or kneeling on counter-tops.
• Wear seat belts in motor vehicles.
• Wear proper sports equipment to pad those areas most frequently bruised (thigh pads, hip guards, and elbow pads in football and hockey; shin guards and knee pads in soccer and basketball).

Illustrations

Bone bruise

Muscle bruise

Skin bruise

Bruise healing - series

Page Content:

Contusion; Hematoma ; hematoma; hematoma subdural; hematoma treatment; epidural hematoma; hematoma subchorionic; artery femoral hematoma; hematoma retroperitoneal; hematoma subungual; chronic hematoma subdural; dog ear hematoma; hematoma leg; aural hematoma; breast hematoma; acute hematoma subdural; brain hematoma; hematoma liver; hematoma subgaleal; abdominal hematoma; definition hematoma; hematoma knee; hematoma subdural symptom; hematoma subungal; ear hematoma; cerebral hematoma; hematoma surgery; hematoma rectus sheath; blood hematoma treatment; hematoma vulvar; hematoma intracerebral; chorionic hematoma sub; groin hematoma; hematoma subcutaneous; after hematoma surgery; dog hematoma; hematoma pregnancy; eye hematoma; hematoma thigh; hematoma septal; hematoma subdural treatment; hematoma symptom; define hematoma; hematoma subarachnoid; hematoma picture; hematoma on the vulva; cause hematoma; hematoma scrotal; hematoma intracranial; auricular hematoma; hematoma spinal; abdominal after hematoma surgery; hematoma splenic subcapsular; hematoma horse; dog ear hematoma in; hematoma kidney; hematoma vasectomy; extradural hematoma; head hematoma; after biopsy breast hematoma; evacuation hematoma; heartbeat hematoma strong subchorionic; hematoma perianal; after breast hematoma reduction; bilateral hematoma periorbital; dog hematoma in; drain hematoma; hematoma intramural; hematoma pdf subdural; hematoma subconjunctival; hematoma subcorial; blood hematoma; bruise hematoma; epidural hematoma pathophysiology; hematoma infant; hematoma vaginal; calcified hematoma; hematoma picture subdural; hematoma scalp; abdomen hematoma; acute hematoma pathophysiology subdural; blood donation hematoma; hematoma in leg; hematoma treat; contusion; bone contusion; pulmonary contusion; knee contusion; contusion definition; hip contusion; chest contusion; cerebral contusion; brain contusion; contusion head; knee bone contusion; cardiac contusion; define contusion; muscle contusion; lung contusion; chest wall contusion; rib contusion; shoulder contusion; eye contusion; foot contusion; quadriceps contusion; contusion treatment; myocardial contusion; spinal contusion; hand contusion; axonal brain contusion diffuse injury neurology; kidney contusion; contusion leg; elbow contusion; patella contusion