Hematoma

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Hematoma" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

A hematoma, also spelled haematoma, or blood suffusion is a localized

Some hematomas are visible under the surface of the skin (commonly called bruises) or possibly felt as masses or lumps. Lumps may be caused by the limitation of the blood to a sac, subcutaneous or intramuscular tissue space isolated by fascial planes. This is a key anatomical feature that helps prevent injuries from causing massive blood loss. In most cases a hematoma as a sac of blood eventually dissolves; however, in some cases it may continue to grow due to blood seepage or show no change. If the sac of blood does not disappear, then it may need to be surgically cleaned out or repaired.

The slow process of reabsorption of hematomas can allow the broken down blood cells and hemoglobin pigment to move in the connective tissue. For example, a patient who injures the base of their thumb might cause a hematoma, which will slowly move all through their finger within a week. Gravity is the main determinant of this process.

Hematomas on

In most cases, movement and exercise of the affected muscle is the best way to introduce the collection back into the bloodstream.

A misdiagnosis of a hematoma in the vertebra can sometimes occur; this is correctly called a hemangioma (buildup of cells) or a benign tumor.

Classification

Types

• Subdermal hematoma (under the skin)
• Intramuscular hematoma (inside
  muscle tissue
  )
• Skull/brain:
  • galea aponeurosis and periosteum
  • Cephalohematoma – between the periosteum and skull. Commonly caused by vacuum delivery and vertex delivery.
  • Epidural hematoma – between the skull and dura mater
  • Subdural hematoma – between the dura mater and arachnoid mater
  • subarachnoid space
    )
  • Othematoma – between the skin and the layers of cartilage of the ear
• Breast hematoma (breast)
• Perichondral hematoma (ear)
• Perianal hematoma (anus)
• Subungual hematoma (nail)
• Rectus sheath hematoma

Degrees

• Petechiae
  – small pinpoint hematomas less than 3 mm in diameter
• Purpura (purple) – a bruise about 3–5 mm in diameter, generally round in shape
• Ecchymosis – subcutaneous extravasation of blood in a thin layer under the skin, i.e. bruising or "black and blue", over 1 cm in diameter^[3]

The English word "hematoma" came into use in 1826. The word derives from the Greek αἷμα haima "blood" and -ωμα -oma, a suffix forming nouns indicating a mass or tumor.^[4]

See also

• Metanephric dysplastic hematoma of the sacral region
• Welts

References