The majority of hematomas go away on their own without medical treatment. However, in some cases, you may require surgery.
Read on to learn about the types of hematomas and what causes them. This guide also discusses symptoms, treatments, when to contact a doctor, and more.
A hematoma occurs following injury to a blood vessel. This causes blood to pool or collect outside of the vessel.
Possible causes or risk factors for hematomas include:
- bone fractures, which can result in tearing or leaking from surrounding blood vessels
- venipuncture
- anticoagulation medications,
such as Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source warfarin - arterial puncture
Surgery can also cause damage to blood vessels. This in turn can lead to a hematoma.
There are different types of hematoma. These include:
- subcutaneous hematoma
- intramuscular hematoma
- subungual hematoma
- auricular hematoma
- nasal septal hematoma
- abdominal hematoma
- pelvic hematoma
- subchorionic hematoma
- intracranial hematoma
Subcutaneous hematoma
“Subcutaneous” means beneath the skin. A subcutaneous hematoma is one that occurs underneath the skin.
Muscular hematoma
Muscular hematomas occur when blood from vessels pools in the muscle groups. Muscular hematomas
Subungual hematoma
Subungual hematomas occur beneath the fingernail or toenail. The usual cause is injury to the finger or toe, which results in discoloration as blood collects beneath the nail.
Auricular hematoma
An auricular hematoma affects the ear. It occurs when blood collects underneath the perichondrium, which is connective tissue in the ear. Auricular hematoma is the
Nasal septal hematoma
Nasal septal hematomas occur when blood collects beneath the mucous membranes of the nasal septum cartilage and bone. A nasal septal hematoma is a
Abdominal hematoma
Abdominal hematomas can occur in the abdominal cavity or in the muscles or tissues of the abdominal wall.
Specifically, a rectus sheath hematoma is
Pelvic hematoma
Pelvic hematomas occur from damage to the pelvic organs.
Subchorionic hematoma
Subchorionic hematomas occur beneath the chorion membranes. The chorion membranes enclose the embryo inside the uterus.
Subchorionoic hematoma and subchorionic hemorrhage are the most common causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy weeks 10–20, accounting for about
Intracranial hematoma
Intracranial hematomas occur inside the skull or brain. There are
- Epidural hematoma: This occurs between the dura mater, the outer layer of the membranes surrounding the brain, and the skull. Skull fracture causes 85–95% of cases.
- Subdural hematoma: This occurs underneath the dura mater. Subdural hematoma can occur spontaneously or result from head trauma, coagulopathy, or a rupture in the veins. Learn more about subdural hematoma.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: This occurs on the pia mater meningeal layer that covers the surface of the brain beneath the arachnoid layer of the meninges. Subarachnoid hemorrhage most commonly occurs after trauma to the cortical surface vessels.
- Intracerebral or intraparenchymal hemorrhage: This is a blood pocket in the brain tissue itself. It most commonly occurs as a result of high blood pressure causing damage to cerebral blood vessels.
View the slideshow below for hematoma pictures.
A hematoma occurs when there is damage to a blood vessel, causing blood to collect outside of the vessel.
A bruise is bleeding under the skin. Following an injury, superficial blood vessels break, causing the bleeding. If the skin does not break, blood remains inside. This causes the discoloration of a bruise.
Find out more about the difference between hematomas and bruises.
Hematoma refers to blood that pools outside of the blood vessel. Hemorrhage involves
Learn about cerebral hemorrhage, a type of bleeding in the brain.
Symptoms of a hematoma depend on the location and severity of the injury, and include:
- bruising
- swelling
- pressure
- skin discoloration
- headache
- seizure, with a subdural hematoma
- loss of bowel or bladder control, with an epidural hematoma
- abdominal pain, if the hematoma affects your peritoneum, liver, or spleen
- lethargy or confusion, with an intracranial hematoma
Symptoms such as swelling and bleeding may develop slowly.
Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of a hematoma. While hematomas are not always a cause for concern, there may be damage to deeper tissues and blood vessels.
Find out more about symptoms of internal bleeding.
Most hematomas are small and may heal on their own. Bleeding
For certain hematomas, such as subungual hematomas, treatments can include over-the-counter pain medication and RICE. RICE stands for “rest, ice, compression, and elevation.”
Your doctor may also advise that you stop taking anticoagulation medication. However, continue to take any prescription medications unless your doctor recommends that you stop or change them.
Surgical procedures
In severe cases, such as a significant intracranial hematoma, surgery is usually necessary. Possible procedures include:
- trephination, to reduce pressure
- arterial embolization, blocking the blood supply to the affected area
incision and drainage Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source or needle aspiration, to drain the blood- burr hole surgery, drilling a small hole into the skull to help with draining
Before surgery, your doctor and surgeon will discuss options and risks of the procedure with you.
Contact your doctor as soon as you have concerns about hematoma.
A hematoma can go away on its own. However, it is important to know if there is damage to deep tissues or blood vessels.
You should also contact your doctor if bleeding does not stop or if the area causes you pain.
To help with a diagnosis, your doctor may ask you questions such as:
- When did you first notice the hematoma?
- Do you know what caused the hematoma?
- Have you had a previous hematoma?
- Do you have a history of blood clotting problems?
- Do you have other symptoms?
- Are you taking blood thinning medication?
In
Depending on the cause or location of the hematoma, tests may include:
- CT scan
- multidetector computed tomography
for suspected spontaneous muscular hematoma Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source - CT angiogram
- X-ray to check for broken bones
- CT or MRI scan
to check for abscesses or foreign bodies Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source - complete blood count
to check for thrombocytopenia Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source , low platelet count - coagulation studies to test for coagulopathy
A number of factors increase your risk of developing a hematoma, including:
- contact sports,
such as Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source wrestling and boxing - aneurysms,
which can rupture Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source and cause a hematoma anticoagulation medications Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source - bleeding disorders,
such as Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Governmental authority Go to source hemophilia heavy alcohol use Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source
Complications depend on location and severity, and include:
myositis ossificans Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source , formation of cartilage or bone inside muscle- abscess formation
from infection of undrained blood Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source scarring Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source - blood reaccumulation after drainage
- saddle nose deformity
as a result of Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source nasal septal hematoma - nervous system damage
in cases of Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source intracranial hematoma - infarct, tissue death resulting from obstructed blood flow
- vasospasm, constriction of blood vessels in the brain that reduces blood flow
- brain herniation
- seizure
Complications of a hematoma can be serious and lead to death. Contact your doctor as soon as you have concerns about hematoma to reduce your risk of complications.
Here are questions people also ask about hematoma.
Is a hematoma serious?
Hematomas can be serious. While many can heal on their own, hematomas
How long does a hematoma take to heal?
Healing time will vary depending on the individual and the type of hematoma. For example, subdural hematoma may take several weeks or months to heal. Pain from subungual hematoma may resolve within days. Your doctor will be able to advise you about expected recovery times for a specific hematoma.
A hematoma occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and blood collects in the area. This can happen anywhere in the body.
Many hematomas heal without medical treatment, but some require surgery. Contact your doctor as soon as you experience symptoms of a hematoma.
A hematoma can be serious if it occurs in the skull cavity or involves deep tissues. Surgery is possible to drain the blood and reduce the risk of complications.
