It happens when an injury causes blood to collect and pool under the skin. The pooling blood gives the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel. A hematoma usually is not a cause for concern. It is not the same thing as a blood clot in a vein, and it does not cause blood clots.
Blood clots typically occur inside larger blood vessels, such as an artery or a vein. Doctors refer to a blood clot as a thrombus. Damage to blood vessels can cause large amounts of blood to leak into the surrounding tissue, forming so-called hematoma. This collection of blood can then become sticky and harden.
If the hematoma symptoms are severe or if it continues to expand over the course of a few days, you should visit your doctor right away. Emergency medicine, urgent care, primary care physicians frequently care for patients with hematomas. A primary care doctor can diagnose a soft tissue hematoma in a physical exam.
Any bruise or other hematoma of the skin that increases in size over time could also present a danger. If a clot from a hematoma reenters the bloodstream, it can block an artery, cutting off blood flow to part of the body. Without prompt treatment, this can result in permanent tissue damage.
Treatment of a hematoma depends on its severity. Small hematomas may resorb after a few days. More severe hematomas that continue to enlarge may require surgery to drain the accumulated blood and/or control any bleeding vessels and reclose the surgical site.
If a haematoma is left untreated and the pressure within the haematoma exceeds the blood pressure in the dermal and subdermal capillaries, it may result in a large area of necrosis of the overlying skin. Therefore, an urgent evacuation of the haematoma must be performed to release the tension over the skin.
Mild hematomas and contusions will usually heal in about five days. A large hematoma may last weeks to months and as it heals it will change color and slowly shrink.
Acute: This is the most dangerous type of subdural hematoma. Symptoms are severe and appear right after a head injury, often within minutes to hours. Pressure on the brain increases quickly as the blood pools. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, you could lose consciousness, become paralyzed or even die.
Hematomas of the skin may also be named based on their size. Petechiae are tiny dots of blood usually less than 3 millimeters in diameter (0.12 inch) while purpura is less than 10 millimeters in diameter (0.40 inch) and ecchymosis is greater than 10 millimeters in diameter. Ecchymosis is commonly considered a bruise.
Gradually the blood in the hematoma is absorbed back into the body. The swelling and pain of the hematoma will go away. This takes from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the size of the hematoma. The skin over the hematoma may turn bluish then brown and yellow as the blood is dissolved and absorbed.
Hematomas are larger bleeds that often involve larger blood vessels. With a hematoma, the leaking blood will pool and clot, or form clumps of blood. This can cause a hard and tender mass. When it is closer to the surface of the skin, a hematoma may look like a painful red, black, or blue lump.
A hematoma may require surgical drainage. Surgery may be more likely if the blood is putting pressure on the spinal cord, brain, or other organs. In other cases, doctors may want to drain a hematoma that is at risk of infection. The type of hematoma depends on where it appears in the body.
The key is to ensure that the hematoma is not older than 48 hours. In most cases, the hematoma can be drained with a large needle without any complications. Follow up of patients is recommended to ensure that there is no infection and the hematoma has resolved.
If a hematoma is especially painful, it is best to seek medical attention. A doctor can provide tips on wrapping or bracing the area. It is also a good idea to see a doctor if the area shows signs of infection, such as discoloration, swelling, and feeling warm to the touch.
It happens when an injury causes blood to collect and pool under the skin. The pooling blood gives the skin a spongy, rubbery, lumpy feel. A hematoma usually is not a cause for concern. It is not the same thing as a blood clot in a vein, and it does not cause blood clots.
You can have a serious injury even if there's no open wound, bruise or other obvious damage. There are three categories of hematoma — subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma and intracerebral (intraparenchymal) hematoma.
Hematomas > or =5 cm at the femoral puncture site are considered major bleeding events in some trials and minor in others.
If there is tremendous pressure within the blood vessel, for example, a major artery, the blood will continue to leak through the damaged wall and the hematoma will expand.
Drainage surgery may be recommended if the hematoma puts pressure on the spinal cord, brain, or other major organs. In other cases, drainage may be the best route to prevent a hematoma from worsening that is at an increased risk of infection.
A craniotomy is the main treatment for subdural haematomas that develop soon after a severe head injury (acute subdural haematomas). During the procedure, the surgeon creates a temporary flap in the skull. The haematoma is gently removed using suction and irrigation, where it's washed away with fluid.
In some cases, a subdural haematoma can cause damage to the brain that requires further care and recovery time. How long it takes to recover varies from person to person. Some people may feel better within a few weeks or months, while others may never make a full recovery even after many years.
The mortality rate for patients with an acute SDH ranges from 50 percent to 90 percent. A significant percentage of these deaths result from the underlying brain injury and pressure on the brain that develops in the days after injury.
Almost all instances of chronic expanding hematoma previously reported in the English literature have a history ranging from 1 month to 20 years.