Global InformationBruise information
| Bruise | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Contusion, ecchymosis[1][2] |
 | |
| Bruise on upper leg caused by a blunt object | |
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
| Treatment | RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) |
A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a type of hematoma of tissue,[3] the most common cause being capillaries damaged by trauma, causing localized bleeding that extravasates into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Most bruises occur close enough to the epidermis such that the bleeding causes a visible discoloration. The bruise then remains visible until the blood is either absorbed by tissues or cleared by immune system action. Bruises which do not blanch under pressure can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bone.[4][5]
Bruises are not to be confused with other similar-looking lesions. Such lesions include petechia (less than 3 mm (0.12 in), resulting from numerous and diverse etiologies such as adverse reactions from medications such as warfarin, straining, asphyxiation, platelet disorders and diseases such as cytomegalovirus);[6] and purpura (3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in)), classified as palpable purpura or non-palpable purpura and indicating various pathologic conditions such as thrombocytopenia.[7] Additionally, although many terminology schemas treat an ecchymosis (plural, ecchymoses) (over 1 cm (0.39 in)) as synonymous with a bruise,[1] in some other schemas, an ecchymosis is differentiated by its remoteness from the source and cause of bleeding, with blood dissecting through tissue planes and settling in an area remote from the site of trauma or even nontraumatic pathology, such as in periorbital ecchymosis ("raccoon eyes"), arising from a basilar skull fracture or from a neuroblastoma.[8]
As a type of hematoma, a bruise is always caused by internal bleeding into the interstitial tissues which does not break through the skin, usually initiated by blunt trauma, which causes damage through physical compression and deceleration forces. Trauma sufficient to cause bruising can occur from a wide variety of situations including accidents, falls, and surgeries. Disease states such as insufficient or malfunctioning platelets, other coagulation deficiencies, or vascular disorders, such as venous blockage associated with severe allergies[9] can lead to the formation of purpura which is not to be confused with trauma-related bruising/contusion.[10] If the trauma is sufficient to break the skin and allow blood to escape the interstitial tissues, the injury is not a bruise but bleeding, a different variety of hemorrhage. Such injuries may be accompanied by bruising elsewhere.[11]
- ^ a b Jain, B. (2004). Guide to Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. B. Jain Publishers. p. 64. ISBN 978-81-8056-526-7.
- ^ Kapoor, Rajat; Barnes, Katy I. (2013). Crash Course Paediatrics – E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7234-3793-2.
- ^ "contusion" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. 2008.
- ^ "Easy Bruising Symptoms".
- ^ Kinnaman, Karen; Binder, William; Nadel, Eric; Brown, David (2015). "Petechiae, anemia, and throbocytopenia". The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 48 (4): 461–65. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2014.12.023. PMID 25661311.
- ^ Lotti, Torello (January 1994). "The Purpuras". International Journal of Dermatology. 33 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4362.1994.tb01483.x. PMID 8112930. S2CID 43261698.
- ^ Gumus, Koray (30 May 2007). "A child with racoon eyes masquerading as trauma". Int Ophthalmol. 27 (6): 379–381. doi:10.1007/s10792-007-9089-y. PMID 17534581. S2CID 5921.
- ^ Turley, Lois (2004-03-10). "Shiners-dark circles & swollen eyes". Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ "UCSF Purpura Module" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; & Mitchell, Richard N. (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. p. 86 ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1