Hematoma treatment

What is Hematoma? What are the Causes of Hematoma?

When a break occurs in a blood vessel, the blood drips into the surrounding area and accumulates there.

A hematoma is typically a non threatening condition in which blood collects within tissue, basically because of hemorrhaging that causes blood to collect outside of the blood vessels. A hematoma typically results from a physical injury in which there is trauma to an area of the body causing a hematoma to develop in the region. The seriousness of the condition varies greatly of course, depending on the area or part of your body that is affected.

For example a hematoma on the leg is generally a very mild condition that is no cause for worry and will resolve very easily, in most cases not even requiring urgent treatment. On the other hand a brain hematoma is a very serious matter that should be treated as a medical emergency situation, requiring prompt attention. Hematomas that develop in the skull or around the brain are very serious and could be of different types. Although not always fatal, the development of a hematoma in the region of the brain could result in permanent damage to the brain tissues or paralysis or even death if not treated immediately.

A physical injury that causes a pooling of blood within the tissue is a common hematoma definition. There are several types of hematoma and they are generally classified according to the area of occurrence. There are several types of hematomas that affect the skull and head, and of these, the Subdural Hematoma and the Epidural hematoma are among the most common. Hematomas that affect the skull are considered to be especially dangerous as the pocket of blood present in the injured area could increase intracranial pressure. This temporal hematoma would then press down on the delicate tissue of the brain and cause severe and even permanent damage.

The swelling that occurs in the area where the blood has collected becomes discolored. This is the site of the hematoma; but a hematoma can take place in any part of the body. A familiar hematoma is a black eye and contusions or bruises. Bruises and hematomas are very similar as both are caused by damaged blood vessels. However, there are also certain points of distinction between them. While a bruise may cause minimal accumulation of blood under the surface of the skin, a hematoma indicates a small pocket of blood that collects in the tissue of the skin. In the case of a superficial bruise, the damaged blood vessels heal quickly and the excess blood that causes the discoloration is reabsorbed by the body.

However, in the case of a hematoma the excess blood from the injury is not reabsorbed into the system but instead forms a small blood filled sac which may even increase in size and therefore increase the risk of secondary complications. Hematoma and hemorrhage are closely connected as hematomas are actually caused by hemorrhaging blood vessels.

In minor injuries, the blood is reabsorbed into the arterial mainstream. But when infection sets in, it becomes a serious condition, especially when they occur inside the skull. A subdural hematoma is very similar to an epidural hematoma. While a subdural hematoma is generally caused by a tear in a vein, an epidural hematoma is caused by a tear in an artery. An epidural hematoma is also closer to the surface of the skin while a subdural hematoma is closer to the brain. While its proximity to the brain makes subdural hematoma a serious problem, the fact that it is caused by a damaged vein only increases the risk of secondary problems. A Subdural hematoma can be classified into three categories. It may be chronic, subacute, or acute in nature. This classification depends on how quickly the subdural hematoma occurs from the time of injury. A chronic subdural hematoma can take days or even weeks to develop and in some cases the exact cause of this type of subdural hematoma may be unverifiable. In many cases, the individual may not experience any symptoms for years after the onset of the hematoma. A chronic subdural hematoma is caused by very slow bleeding from the injury and in many cases there are several minor bleeds before the bleeding stops without any treatment. The risk of fatality is extremely low for this type of subdural hematoma. A subacute subdural hematoma is more serious than a chronic subdural hematoma and the onset of the hematoma occurs between day 2 and day 10 from the day of injury. An acute subdural hematoma is the most serious of the three types and it generally sets in within the first 24 hours of the injury. This type of injury is extremely severe as it often results in a fatality; however, acute subdural hematomas are relatively not as common as subacute hematomas. Acute subdural hematomas are most commonly associated with injuries suffered in high speed acceleration or deceleration accidents and these are also known as traumatic hematomas.

A hematoma is characterized by swelling, tenderness at the injury area, a feeling of tearing inside the injured limb, and appearance of bruises just after the injury. A subdural or epidural hematoma may present almost instant symptoms but could also take a week or two. A subdural hematoma may take longer to show symptoms as it is caused by a tear in a vein which has reduced blood pressure as compared to arteries. Epidural hematomas are caused by a tear in an artery and so an individual with an epidural hematoma is more likely to present early symptoms. The signs and symptoms of a subdural hematoma include a severe headache, the loss of consciousness, and seizures. The individual may also show signs of disorientation, dizziness, or extreme pain. Nausea and vomiting, slurred speech, diminished motor capabilities, and blurred vision are also common signs of a subdural hematoma.

When a hematoma occurs in a part of the body other than the head, it will generally present very different symptoms as compared to the symptoms of a subdural hematoma. An eye hematoma is often referred to as a black eye and since it occurs in the delicate skin surrounding the eye, it is possible that the eye could be injured and so the person may suffer from problems with his/her vision. A Placental hematoma or subchorionic hematoma is the term used to describe the pooling of blood between the uterus and the placental membranes. In a perianal hematoma that occurs on the border of the anus, mild to severe pain is common. In a muscle sprain, the muscles are stretched beyond their capacity. Some of the tendons tear. The blood vessels will also incur a break and immediately blood will pool along the injure area. A hematoma will accompany the swelling that occurs. In this kind of injury, the ligaments may slightly tear, tear with blood clots, or the ligaments will have clean split. The severity of the hematoma will also be determined by the degree of the tear. The symptoms of hematoma include bruising and severe pain in the affected area and it may take weeks or even months to heal completely. Hematoma healing may take a while but once it occurs there is seldom any need for follow-up treatment. Hematoma removal at home is extremely dangerous and hematoma drainage can only be carried out by a certified specialist.

Hematoma Treatment

A sprain can vary from light, moderate, to severe. A sprain will always be accompanied by inflammation. The injured area will be hot and tender to the touch. There will also be damage to the surrounding tissues—vessels, nerves, and muscles. To ease the pain, a painkiller can be taken orally. Whether the injury is mild or not, it is advisable to have a physician assess the injury. The evaluation will also include the ocular inspection of the hematoma.

When a mild swelling occurs after a muscle sprain, and is still painful after 2 days, apply gentle heat on the affected area using warm towels. A hot water bottle or a heating pad can also do the job well. Apply the heat every 20 minutes. The heat will be absorbed into the area and can ease the pain. Follow this with a cold compress to minimize the swelling caused by the heat. The hemorrhaging will be minimized, stabilizing the hematoma. Elevate the injured limb so that blood will not collect in the injured area.

A fracture is invariably accompanied by a hematoma and it is important that both are treated simultaneously. Particular care will have to be taken while bathing as a fall in the shower would cause further complications. During the recuperation period, if the no cast is applied, continue the cold compress treatment. You can use an ice pack 3 to 4 times a day. If the arm is sprained, wrap it with an elasticized bandage in between the ice treatments. On the third day, apply hot compress instead of ice. For the heat treatment use heat lamps, hot soaks, or heating pads. Massage the area gently to decrease the swelling. A hematoma responds well by and decreasing its swelling. Hematoma treatment also includes the application of a warm compress to the area surrounding the injury as this will help to increase blood circulation in the area and will also allow the blood that has pooled to be slowly reabsorbed by the body.

A hematoma that occurs on the skull should not be ignored and immediate medical treatment is necessary. A person who is suspected of having a subdural hematoma must not be allowed to move about as this will only serve to increase the person’s blood pressure levels which in turn will aggravate the hemorrhaging. Try not to move the person as far as possible and make sure that you note any anomalies in the person’s behavior as this may help to determine the presence of a subdural hematoma. If the person is unconscious, it is important to not try to shake the person awake and if the person is drifting in and out of consciousness, it is important to try to keep them from losing consciousness. You can do this by talking to the person and coaxing them into answering your questions. Make a note of any disorientation that may be present as this is a common symptom in subdural hematomas and will help to speed up the diagnosis process.

To regain strength, a well-balanced diet with extra protein should be observed. When things are getting back to normal, it is a good practice to build up strength and warm up before any exercise. It is always prudent to follow doctor’s orders. As the days pass the hematoma will disappear, and things will be normal again.

Hematomas are commonly confused with other conditions, some of which are mild, while some may be more serious. If you are not entirely sure about what you are dealing with then it would be wise to consult a doctor to diagnose the condition. There are plenty of hematoma pictures available on the internet as well and browsing through some such images should help give you a clearer idea of what the condition would appear like. A hematoma is at times confused with ecchymosis, a condition in which blood accumulates or spreads beneath the skin surface to cause what we commonly know as bruising. In some cases there may be an abnormal build up of blood vessels in the organs of the body, including in the skin, but this is termed as hemangioma and should not be confused with a hematoma. If you’ve just undergone surgery and notice the accumulation of fluid in a pocket around the area, it is most likely that you’ve developed a seroma, which is a pocket of clear serous fluid, not a hematoma. Although it is unlikely for anyone to confuse edema with a hematoma, stranger things have happened. Edema is simply a condition of fluid retention in which fluid accumulates in body tissue.