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Bruise

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeBruise (disambiguation).
"Black-and-blue" redirects here. For other uses, seeBlack and Blue (disambiguation).
Bruise
Other namesContusion, ecchymosis[1][2]
Bruise on upper leg caused by a blunt object
SpecialtyEmergency medicine
TreatmentRICE(rest,ice,compression,andelevation)

Abruise,also known as acontusion,is a type ofhematomaoftissue,[3]the most common cause beingcapillariesdamaged bytrauma,causing localized bleeding thatextravasatesinto the surroundinginterstitialtissues. 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 byimmune systemaction. Bruises which do notblanchunder 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-lookinglesions.Such lesions includepetechia(less than 3 mm (0.12 in), resulting from numerous and diverse etiologies such as adverse reactions from medications such as warfarin, straining, asphyxiation,plateletdisorders and diseases such ascyt Omega lovirus);[6]andpurpura(3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in)), classified as palpable purpura or non-palpable purpura and indicating various pathologic conditions such asthrombocytopenia.[7]Additionally, although manyterminologyschemas treat anecchymosis(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 inperiorbitalecchymosis ( "raccoon eyes"), arising from abasilar skull fractureor from aneuroblastoma.[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 byblunt trauma,which causes damage throughphysical compressionanddecelerationforces. Trauma sufficient to cause bruising can occur from a wide variety of situations including accidents, falls, and surgeries. Disease states such as insufficient or malfunctioningplatelets,othercoagulationdeficiencies, or vascular disorders, such as venous blockage associated with severeallergies[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]

Signs and symptoms

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A woman's bruising after a severe fall

Bruises often induce pain immediately after the trauma that results in their formation, but small bruises are not normally dangerous alone. Sometimes bruises can be serious, leading to other more life-threatening forms of hematoma, such as when associated with serious injuries, includingfracturesand more severeinternal bleeding.The likelihood and severity of bruising depends on many factors, including type and healthiness of affected tissues. Minor bruises may be easily recognized in people with light skin color by characteristic blue or purple appearance (idiomatically described as "black and blue" ) in the days following the injury.

Hematomas can be subdivided by size. By definition, ecchymoses are 1 centimetres in size or larger, and are therefore larger thanpetechiae(less than 3 millimetres in diameter)[12]orpurpura(3 to 10 millimetres in diameter).[13]Ecchymoses also have a more diffuse border than other purpura.[14]A broader definition of ecchymosis is the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels.[15][16]The term also applies to the subcutaneous discoloration resulting from seepage of blood within the injured tissue.

Bruise colors vary from red, blue, or almost black, depending on the severity of broken capillaries or blood vessels within the bruise site. Brokenvenulesorarteriolesoften result in a deep blue or dark red bruise, respectively. Darker colored bruises may result from a more severe bleeding from both blood vessels. Older bruises may appear yellow, green or brown.[11][17]

Cause

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There are many causes of subcutaneous hematomas including ecchymoses.Coagulopathiessuch ashemophilia Amay cause ecchymosis formation in children.[18]The medicationbetamethasonecan have the adverse effect of causing ecchymosis.[19]

The presence of bruises may be seen in patients withplateletorcoagulationdisorders, or those who are being treated with ananticoagulant.Unexplained bruising may be a warning sign ofchild abuse,domestic abuse,or serious medical problems such asleukemiaormeningoccocalinfection. Unexplained bruising can also indicate internal bleeding or certain types of cancer. Long-term glucocorticoid therapy can cause easy bruising. Bruising present around thenavel(belly button) with severe abdominal pain suggests acutepancreatitis.Connective tissue disorders such asEhlers–Danlos syndromemay cause relatively easy or spontaneous bruising depending on the severity. Spontaneous bruising or bruising with minimal trauma in the absence of other explanations and together with other minor or major criteria suggestive of vascular Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) suggestsgenetic testingfor the condition.[20]

During anautopsy,bruises accompanyingabrasionsindicate the abrasions occurred while the individual was alive, as opposed to damage incurred post mortem.

Size and shape

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Bruise caused by colliding with ahandrail,typical ofextreme sportssuch asskateboardingandrollerblading.
Bruise caused by asprained ankle
Black eyeandsubconjunctival hemorrhageafter a punch to the face

Bruise shapes may correspond directly to the instrument of injury or be modified by additional factors. Bruises often become more prominent as time lapses, resulting in additional size and swelling, and may grow to a large size over the course of the hours after the injury that caused the bruise was inflicted.

  • Condition and type of tissue: In soft tissues, a larger area is bruised than would be in firmer tissue due to ease of blood to invade tissue.
  • Age: elderly skin and other tissues are often thinner and less elastic and thus more prone to bruising.
  • Gender: More bruising occurs in females due to increasedsubcutaneous fat.
  • Skin tone: Discoloration caused by bruises is more prominent in lighter complexions.
  • Diseases:Coagulation,plateletand blood vessel diseases or deficiencies can increase bruising due to more bleeding.
  • Location: More extensive vascularity causes more bleeding. Areas such as the arms, knees, shins and the facial area are especially common bruise sites.
  • Forces: Greater striking forces cause greater bruising.
  • Genes: Despite having completely normal coagulation factors, naturalredheadshave been shown to bruise more, although this may just be due to greater visibility on commonly associated lighter complexion.[21]

Severity

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Bruises can be scored on a scale from 0–5 to categorize the severity and danger of the injury.

Bruise harm score
Harm score Severity level Notes
0 Light bruise No damage
1 Mild bruise Little damage
2 Moderate bruise Some damage
3 Serious bruise Dangerous
4 Extremely serious bruise Very dangerous
5 Critical bruise Risk of death

The harm score is determined by the extent and severity of the injuries to the organs and tissues causing the bruising, in turn depending on multiple factors. For example, acontractedmuscle will bruise more severely, as will tissues crushed against underlying bone.Capillariesvary in strength, stiffness and toughness, which can also vary by age and medical conditions.

Low levels of damaging forces produce small bruises and generally cause the individual to feel minor pain straight away. Repeated impacts worsen bruises, increasing the harm level. Normally, light bruises heal nearly completely within two weeks, although duration is affected by variation in severity and individual healing processes;[22]generally, more severe or deeper bruises take somewhat longer.

Severe bruising (harm score 2–3) may be dangerous or cause serious complications. Further bleeding and excess fluid may accumulate causing a hard, fluctuating lump or swelling hematoma. This has the potential to causecompartment syndromein which the swelling cuts off blood flow to the tissues. The trauma that induced the bruise may also have caused other severe and potentially fatal harm to internalorgans.For example, impacts to the head can causetraumatic brain injury:bleeding, bruising and massive swelling of the brain with the potential to causeconcussion,comaand death. Treatment for brain bruising may involve emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on the brain.

Damage that causes bruising can also cause bones to bebroken,tendonsor muscles to bestrained,ligamentsto besprained,or other tissue to be damaged. The symptoms and signs of these injuries may initially appear to be those of simple bruising. Abdominal bruising or severe injuries that cause difficulty in moving a limb or the feeling of liquid under the skin may indicate life-threatening injury and require the attention of a physician.

Mechanism

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Severe bruising resulting from yard work injury

Increased distress to tissue causescapillariesto break under the skin, allowing blood to escape and build up. As time progresses, blood seeps into the surrounding tissues, causing the bruise to darken and spread.Nerveendings within the affected tissue detect the increased pressure, which, depending on severity and location, may be perceived as pain or pressure or beasymptomatic.The damaged capillaryendotheliumreleasesendothelin,ahormonethat causesnarrowing of the blood vesselto minimize bleeding. As the endothelium is destroyed, the underlyingvon Willebrand factoris exposed and initiatescoagulation,which creates a temporaryclotto plug the wound and eventually leads to restoration of normal tissue.

During this time, larger bruises may change color due to the breakdown ofhemoglobinfrom within escapedred blood cellsin the extracellular space. The striking colors of a bruise are caused by thephagocytosisand sequential degradation of hemoglobin tobiliverdintobilirubintohemosiderin,with hemoglobin itself producing a red-blue color, biliverdin producing a green color, bilirubin producing a yellow color, and hemosiderin producing a golden-brown color.[11]As these products are cleared from the area, the bruise disappears. Often the underlying tissue damage has been repaired long before this process is complete.

Treatment

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Healing of ablack eyeover a nine-day period caused by awisdom toothextraction

Treatment for light bruises is minimal and may includeRICE(rest,ice,compression,andelevation),painkillers(particularlyNSAIDs) and, later in recovery, light stretching exercises. Particularly, immediate application of ice while elevating the area may reduce or completely prevent swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and preventing internal bleeding. Rest and preventing re-injury is essential for rapid recovery.

Very gently massaging the area and applying heat may encourage blood flow and relieve pain according to theGate control theoryof pain, although causing additional pain may indicate the massage is exacerbating the injury.[23]As for most injuries, these techniques should not be applied until at least three days following the initial damage to ensure all internal bleeding has stopped, because although increasing blood flow will allow more healing factors into the area and encourage drainage, if the injury is still bleeding this will allow more blood to seep out of the wound and cause the bruise to become worse.

History

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Folk medicine,including ancient medicine of Egyptians, Greeks, Celts, Turks, Slavs, Mayans, Aztecs and Chinese, has used bruising as a treatment for some health problems. The methods vary widely and include cupping, scraping, and slapping.Fire cuppinguses suction which causes bruising in patients. Scraping (gua sha) uses a small hand device with a rounded edge to gently scrape the scalp or the skin. Another ancient device that creates mild bruising is astrigil,used by Greeks and Romans in the bath. Archaeologically there is no precedent for scraping tools before Greek archaeological evidence, not Chinese or Egyptian.[24]

Etymology and pronunciation

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The wordecchymosis(/ˌɛkɪˈmoʊsɪs/;pluralecchymoses,/ˌɛkɪˈmoʊsiːs/), comes to English fromNeo-Latin,based onGreekἐκχύμωσις,ekchymōsis,fromἐκχυμοῦσθαι,ekchymousthai,'to extravasate blood', fromἐκ-,ek-(elided toἐ-,e-) andχυμός,chymos,'juice'.[25]Compareenchyma,"tissue infused with organic juice"; elaboration from chyme, the formative juice of tissues.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abJain, B. (2004).Guide to Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.B. Jain Publishers. p. 64.ISBN978-81-8056-526-7.
  2. ^Kapoor, Rajat; Barnes, Katy I. (2013).Crash Course Paediatrics – E-Book.Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 64.ISBN978-0-7234-3793-2.
  3. ^"contusion"atDorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine(17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. 2008.
  5. ^"Easy Bruising Symptoms".
  6. ^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.PMID25661311.
  7. ^Lotti, Torello (January 1994). "The Purpuras".International Journal of Dermatology.33(1): 1–10.doi:10.1111/j.1365-4362.1994.tb01483.x.PMID8112930.S2CID43261698.
  8. ^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.PMID17534581.S2CID5921.
  9. ^Turley, Lois (2004-03-10)."Shiners-dark circles & swollen eyes".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-12-12.Retrieved2009-10-08.
  10. ^"UCSF Purpura Module"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-10-02.Retrieved2013-01-13.
  11. ^abc Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; & Mitchell, Richard N. (2007).Robbins Basic Pathology(8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. p. 86ISBN978-1-4160-2973-1
  12. ^Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon C.; Perkins, James A. (2017-03-28).Robbins basic pathology(10th ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 101.ISBN9780323353175.OCLC960844656.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^McKenzie, Shirlyn B. (2014).Clinical Laboratory Hematology.Williams, Joanne Lynne; Landis-Piwowar, Kristin (3rd ed.). Boston. p. 665.ISBN978-0133076011.OCLC878098857.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^"Case Based Pediatrics Chapter".Retrieved2009-01-08.
  15. ^Merriam-Webster Dictionary.http:// merriam-webster /dictionary/ecchymosis;accessed 1/2/2012
  16. ^Gould, George M.The Practitioner's Medical Dictionary,P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1916 et seq.; p. 311
  17. ^"WebMD article on bruises".
  18. ^Lee, AC (June 2008)."Bruises, blood coagulation tests and the battered child syndrome"(PDF).Singapore Medical Journal.49(6): 445–49.PMID18581014.
  19. ^"betamethasone"(PDF).F.A. Davis. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-09-08.Retrieved2020-02-11.
  20. ^Byers PH. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. 1999 Sep 2 [Updated 2019 Feb 21]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993–2020. Available from:https:// ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK1494/
  21. ^Liem, Edwin B.; Hollensead, Sandra C.; Joiner, Teresa V.; Sessler, Daniel I. (2006)."Women with Red Hair Report a Slightly Increased Rate of Bruising but Have Normal Coagulation Tests".Anesthesia & Analgesia.102(1): 313–18.doi:10.1213/01.ANE.0000180769.51576.CD.PMC1351323.PMID16368849.
  22. ^Voorhees, Benjamin W. (2007-08-31)."Medical Encyclopedia – Bruise healing".Retrieved2007-09-09.
  23. ^"WebMD article on bruise treatment".
  24. ^Kotera-Fayer "Die Strigilis" 93
  25. ^Merriam-Webster,Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: "ecchymosis",Merriam-Webster.
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