Contusion: treatment

Contusion treatment is individual, depending on the location, severity and many other factors. It is no coincidence that in Latin, the language of medicine, a contusion is called contusio, which means to smash, break. From a medical point of view, it is a soft tissue injury without damage to the skin. You can contusion yourself, by inattentively colliding with an obstacle, or you can get injured from the outside, when a mechanical injury is caused by an object (a direct blow is called a bumper blow). The site of injury is injured depending on the structure and structure: soft tissue is injured more and deeper than the skeletal system. As a rule, there are no anatomical changes in the organs, although a contusion can accompany a more serious injury, such as a bone fracture. In this case, they are a consequence of the primary injury, and not an independent medical problem.

At the site of impact, vessels and capillaries are usually damaged under the skin, thus forming bruises and hematomas. The severity and extent of hematomas depend on the location of the injury. The hips and back are subject to minor injuries, since in these parts the soft tissues "cushion" the blow, and a blow to the bone, especially to the joint, is fraught with hemarthrosis - hemorrhage into the joint cavity. It should be noted that in soft tissues, in the presence of large hematomas, problems can also arise - traumatic cavities filled with blood (cysts). Less often, injuries can lead to heterotopic ossification - the formation of bone tissue in places where it should not be (extraskeletal). Also dangerous are injuries in parts of the body where arteries are located (femoral, carotid, brachial), since such traumatic injuries can damage the vascular wall and lead to thrombosis, and subsequently to tissue death. The places where the nerve endings are located (the elbow joint, the fibula, and the radius) temporarily lose their functionality in case of injury due to neuritis. After some time, the nerve tissue is compensated, but such damage is dangerous due to intra-trunk hemorrhages.

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Bruise: treatment with conservative methods

Bruise treatment can vary, it all depends on the part of the body and the damage caused by the blow. However, there are some general standards and rules with which you can try to prevent the spread of hemorrhage under the skin during the first day, and therefore stop the injury of the inner subcutaneous layer and soft tissues in time. Here are general recommendations that are suitable for all types of bruises:

• A moderately tight bandage is applied to the injured area, which should be checked from time to time so that the tightening does not disrupt blood circulation. The bandage is made from elastic material (bandage) or improvised means.
• After applying the bandage, a cold compress should be applied immediately. This can be ice, a container filled with cold water, or any cold object. The cold should be maintained throughout the day, constantly changing the compresses as they warm up. A local cold compress helps to stop swelling and relieve pain a little. Cooling also prevents imbibition - the penetration of blood from damaged vessels into tissue. If possible, you can treat the damaged area with a special cooling and anesthetic agent, such as ethyl chloride. Such drugs are often used in the treatment of athletes' injuries.
• The second and third days are usually characterized by significant swelling, cold can no longer be applied, it will not work. Warm (not hot) compresses are appropriate, which will help the accumulated hemolyzed blood to dissolve faster. In addition to compresses, baths can be used if the legs or arms are injured. If the soft tissues of the thigh or other tissues are injured, to which baths are not applicable, a dry warm compress or a fabric compress soaked in alcohol can be applied.
• Physiotherapeutic measures can be carried out as prescribed: electrophoresis with lidase, potassium iodide or UHF.
• For one to two weeks, it is appropriate to use ointments or gels containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Gels penetrate damaged tissues more easily, so they are preferable to ointments. However, ointments with a resorptive effect, for example, with horse chestnut extract or leech extract, are quite effective. Ointment, cream, gel should be applied locally during the day 4-5 times a day. It should be noted that ointment is not applied to damaged skin (abrasions, scratches or wounds) to avoid unnecessary irritation and bacterial infections.
• If the bruise is strong enough and the pain is intense, you can take a simple analgesic (ibuprofen, diclofenac).

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Bruise: surgical treatment

Bruise treatment can be more serious, requiring the intervention of specialists, doctors. For example, extensive, heavy hematomas are often punctured to release the accumulated exudate. If the cavity cannot be aspirated, then a mini-operation is performed - the skin is cut after local anesthesia and the fluid is removed. Then a sterile bandage is applied and the wound is periodically treated with an antiseptic.

There are also folk methods. Bruise treatment involves various methods, the main thing is that they are effective and safe. Among the well-proven methods, we can mention the application of a fresh, clean cabbage leaf or a curd compress. Cabbage contains ascorbic acid, which penetrates the subcutaneous layer, stops the inflammatory process and relieves pain, and cottage cheese has the same properties. It is better to use sour cottage cheese, it has more useful acid, and a curd compress also relieves swelling and inflammation well.

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