What is Hematoma
A hematoma is a condition wherein blood collects outside the blood vessels, due to internal bleeding. It is usually caused by a fall, bumping against something, or direct injury, especially with a blunt object. The injury causes damage to the tendons, ligaments, soft tissue, nerves and muscles, in addition to the blood vessels. A hematoma can cause great discomfort along with swelling, soreness and redness. The affected area feels tense and resembles an over inflated balloon. There is normally a progressive change of color from red, to purple, followed by green yellow to yellow, before the bruise heals completely.
A common hematoma of the muscular tissue, known as ‘cork’, takes place around the thigh area when the muscle is compressed against the bone lying underneath. The hematoma is caused by the rupturing of the muscle due to the impact, and results in swelling. There is an increased risk of hematoma in athletes participating in contact sports, especially when protective gear is not used. Over stretching of the tissue in the calf muscle is also liable to cause a tear in this muscle, leading to hematoma due to the rupture of blood vessels.
Natural Treatments for Hematoma
Using an ice pack immediately after the injury is caused reduces the pain and restricts the size and severity of the bruise, as it constricts the blood vessels, not allowing the blood to escape. Ice cubes placed in a plastic bag and covered with a moist towel act as an effective cold pack and should be used for fifteen to twenty minutes, every two to three hours. Heat treatment is recommended after forty eight hours from the time of the injury, as it increases the circulation of blood in and around the injured section, leading to quicker healing of hematoma. The sources of heat could be hot showers, warm compressions, heating pads or heat generating ointments. Massaging the leg should be avoided, as it may lead to further rupture of blood vessels and is likely to cause hemorrhaging. A well balanced diet, rich in high protein foods like milk products, fish, poultry and meat speeds up hematoma recovery. An increase in the intake of fluids and fibrous foods also prevents constipation, due to decreased activity. The bruise becomes worse if the immune system is weak. Drinking plenty of water and increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamin C boosts the immune system, resulting in a quicker healing of the bruise. You should also remember that wearing protective gear during athletic activities ensures a decreased risk of leg injuries resulting in hematoma.
Knee Hematoma
A knee hematoma is basically an accumulation of blood under the skin, typically the result of trauma to the knee. It is the result of internal bleeding – the skin is usually unbroken, but the blood vessels have been ruptured due to the trauma, and the blood has collected in the surrounding tissues. A hematoma can develop in any part of the body that has suffered a forceful blow, but knee hematomas tend to be among the most painful. However, a hematoma is usually really a good thing, if you consider the other types of injuries that you may have suffered from the same trauma. A hematoma will sometimes turn into a sac of blood, and this discourages further bleeding. Of course, the presence of a hematoma does not rule out any other injuries, so it is always advisable to have your knee looked at by a doctor, just to rule out the possibility of a fracture, a rupture, or some other serious injury. If there are no such injuries, then you can usually consider yourself to have gotten off lightly.
Hematoma Cure
Of course, hematomas can also be severe in some cases. There are several degrees of hematoma and a small injury, no larger than 3 millimeters in diameter, does not usually require any treatment. Larger hematomas may require medical attention, as they may not heal on their own, and may also indicate more serious internal injuries. Usually, all that is needed to manage a hematoma is rest and the regular application of hot compresses. A knee hematoma will usually restrict movement of the joint to a considerable extent. You should therefore avoid putting any strain on the joint while it heals. Get plenty of rest, and avoid running, jogging, or any strenuous exercise. For a hot compress, you can either use a heating pad or a hot water bottle, both of which should be easily available at any medical store. The blood that has formed the hematoma will usually dissolve on its own as time passes, and the hematoma will disappear. Of course, the larger the hematoma, the more blood it will contain, and the longer it will take to disappear.
In some cases, a hematoma may remain unchanged for months, or it may even continue to grow. If this happens, you should consult your doctor once more. A hematoma that refuses to dissolve may need to be removed using a minor surgical procedure.
What is Brain Hematoma and its Effects
Brain hematoma is a serious condition caused by the accumulation of blood in the space between the brain and the skull. Normally, the brain lies in a pool of fluids that cushions the delicate tissues from vibrations or trauma that would come about from normal movement. But, when subjected to a severe blow or injury, the brain may stretch and hit the inner walls of the skull, causing a rupture of blood vessels in the brain. This will lead to bleeding and the blood accumulated will put undue pressure on the brain, which will result in several neurological disorders. Although the most common cause of brain hematoma is severe injury or trauma, there can be other cause as well. For example, cerebral aneurysm, a disease that causes spontaneous rupture of blood vessels in the brain, can be another reason for brain hematoma. Brain tumors, certain auto-immune diseases, and chronic hypertension are some other notable causes. Besides these, certain groups of people may be more at risk. Alcohol abuse can greatly increase the chance of a brain hematoma. Prolonged use of certain anticoagulant drugs, like aspirin, can increase the chances of a brain hematoma as well. Also, elderly people, who suffer from a condition called cerebral atrophy, are more susceptible to brain hematoma.
Brain hematoma can have several neurological effects in the body. The patients suffering from brain hematoma are likely to show one or many of the following symptoms: frequent seizures, a feeling of numbness, severe headache, nausea or vomiting, slurred speech, a feeling of constant dizziness, blurring of vision, amnesia, disorientation, and abnormal gaze. The symptoms may worsen if proper medical care is not given immediately. Brain hematoma is a very serious condition which can put the patient in a coma or even cause death. Therefore, brain hematoma patients should be given emergency medical care.
Small brain hematomas that do not show any adverse symptoms can be treated with medication under proper medical supervision. However, if the brain hematoma is bigger in size, surgical methods need to be employed to drain out the accumulated blood.
There are two types of surgical methods to treat brain hematoma. The first type is perforation, where a hole is drilled and the blood is suctioned out. This method is used when the hematoma is not very large and is not clotting. The second type of surgery is known as craniotomy, where a portion of the skull is opened to drain out the blood.
It should be remembered that post surgery, the recovery may need a long time. Medical supervision and support from family and friends will be required for a smooth recovery.
What is Rectus Hematoma
Rectus hematoma, also known as rectus sheath hematoma, is a rare disease that results in bleeding into the rectus sheath. The bleeding happens due to damage in the rectus muscle or due to damage of the epigastric arteries. Rectus hematoma is often misdiagnosed due to its similarity to common abdominal pain.
The common symptoms of rectus hematoma are acute abdominal pain, accompanied with fever and nausea. The abdominal pain is often sharp and acute and may occur both suddenly or gradually. You will also feel a painful mass in your lower abdomen, which will cause more pain during movement of the body. Depending on the severity of the condition, rectus hematoma is divided into three types – Type I, Type II, and Type III.
There are several causes of rectus hematoma; some of which are mentioned below:
1. Use of anticoagulants
2. Severe coughing (patients with asthma, tuberculosis, pertussis, and other infections of the respiratory system)
3. Pregnancy and labor-related causes
4. External injury
5. Vigorous physical work
6. Surgery
7. Underlying medical disorder
Although rectus hematoma can happen to anyone, pregnant women, elderly people, and people undergoing anticoagulation therapy are more at risk. The disease is usually just a self-limiting troublesome condition but can, in some cases, also prove fatal.
Proper medical diagnosis is the first step in treating this disease. Often it remains undiagnosed because the symptoms mimic common abdominal pain. Also, a proper diagnosis is difficult because it is a rare disease. Diagnosis is usually made with laboratory results and imaging studies. For laboratory tests, blood cell counts, coagulation factors, and arterial or venous blood gas are measured. Imaging studies mostly employ CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasonography.
The treatments for rectus hematoma include proper rest, use of analgesics, pain management with ice packs, intravenous fluid resuscitation, anticoagulation reversal, and transfusion. Patients with chronic conditions (Type II and Type III) may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment. These patients may also need some surgical treatment to drain out the hematoma and to repair the rectus sheath. Type II rectus hematoma may need 2-4 months to recover, while Type III usually takes more than 3 months. Patients with Type I rectus hematoma generally do not require hospitalization and with proper medical treatment they should recover within a month.
After getting discharged from the hospital it still is important to carry on with the prescribed medication and follow up with the doctor regularly so that the progress can be monitored properly.
