Hematoma treatment
A hematoma can best be described as a collection of blood that is typically clotted, in either an organ or a tissue. You will find that a hematoma can actually occur almost anywhere in the body. If you are suffering from a minor injury, the blood is most likely to absorb unless an infection develops. Some of the most familiar forms of hematoma can be contusions or bruises and black eyes. A far less serious type of hematoma is the subungual variety which is usually found underage fingernail or toenail. There is also the hematoma auris, which is better known as cauliflower ear or a perianal hematoma, which is most commonly found under the skin around the anus.
You will find a hematoma is pretty much always present around a fracture. They are considered to be at their most serious if they occur inside the skull. This may lead to pressure being placed on the brain and most notably in the form of epidurals and subdural hematomas. An epidural hematoma is caused when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain and causes a blood clot between the skull and the brain’s protective covering, otherwise known as the dura. The clot will actually grow very slowly and continuously put pressure on the brain. This type of blood clot, if not treated promptly, can result in death.
If you suffer from an intracranial hematoma you will require immediate specialized medical attention. However for something as simple as contusions and bruises, these can merely be treated by applying ice or cold packs numerous times a day. This will produce what is known as vasoconstriction, which in layman’s terms is a reduction in arterial blood flow. This will help to decrease the bleeding and swelling. The quicker that you are able to apply ice after the injury, the less bleeding you can expect. It is often recommended that you should elevate the bruised area or limb so that blood will travel away from the area of the wound. This should typically lessen the amount of swelling. You will also find that if you rest the limb or injured area, this should help to prevent any further injury.
Once you have completed this form of ice or cold pack treatment, you should find that the injured area begins to return to normal. If however after a period of at least 48 hours, you still find that the area is painful you should look to apply gentle heat. This can be done through the use of warm towels, a hot water bottle or a heating pad. In order to promote absorption and repair you should only apply heat to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time. It is also advisable that you should follow a series of hot compressions with a cold application. Heat is known to increase tissue fluid and can cause swelling, which may actually impair the function of the limb or body parts in question. By adding a cooling agent immediately after, this will help to minimize the effects of heat.
You may also wish to use an elastic adhesive bandage to reduce haemorrhage and swelling. They should apply a significant amount of pressure which can aid the healing process. Often with this type of injury an infection can develop in the wound and therefore there are certain signs and symptoms that you should look out for. You may firstly notice your pain is increasingly becoming more severe. An infection is occasionally followed by a high temperature and fever and in most cases will be of 101 degrees or more. Other signs of infection will include increased swelling with a surrounding redness, and/or pus. Should you encounter any of these problems, it is vitally important that you notify your physician immediately. This is their opportunity to make sure that there are no further problems or complications.
You will actually find that the majority of hematomas have little consequence. They are mainly caused by a minor trauma where you were already aware of a certain injury. They will typically heal without any further problems. There are certain types of hematomas that should be taken far more seriously and this is typically due to their location. One of the most common types of hematoma that should be treated immediately, as mentioned, is a head injury. This can often lead to headaches, vomiting and difficulty being aroused. You will also find that if you are taking blood thinners, you will be at a higher risk of bleeding from a minor injury. Therefore it is, once again, vital to seek medical attention. Most hematomas of the skin soft tissues are usually diagnosed by physical examination. A physician or health care practitioner will realize that you are exhibiting signs of internal bleeding and will decide what course of action to take from there.
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