Hematoma (cont.)
Siamak N. Nabili, MD, MPH
Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- What is a hematoma?
- What are the causes of hematoma?
- What are the symptoms and signs of a hematoma?
- When should I seek medical care for a hematoma?
- How is a hematoma diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for a hematoma?
- Can I care for a hematoma myself?
- What is the medical treatment for a hematoma?
- Should I follow-up with my doctor?
- Can a hematoma be prevented?
- What is the outlook after suffering a hematoma?
What are the symptoms and signs of a hematoma?
Symptoms of a hematoma generally depend on its size and location. Pain, swelling, redness, and disfiguring bruises are common symptoms of hematoma in general. Some symptoms specific to the location of a hematoma are:
- Subdural hematoma symptoms: headache, neurologic problems (weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, falling), confusion, seizures
- Epidural hematoma symptoms: back pain, weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control
- Subungual hematoma symptoms: nail pain, nail weakness, nail loss, disfiguring nail
- Splenic, hepatic, or peritoneal hematoma symptoms: abdominal pain, flank pain
Sometimes there are not any symptoms at all associated with even a very large hematoma. For example, if bleeding happens to be inside the abdominal cavity, it can expand into a very large size before it causes any symptoms. This can happen because the hematoma can spread in a relatively free space without pressing on any organs to cause pain or other symptoms.
On the other hand, a small hematoma under the nail can present with a lot of pain because the blood expands into a very tight space under the nail bed and causes inflammation and irritation of the nearby nail and skin, resulting in pain and swelling.
Depending on the location of the hematoma, a mass or lump can sometimes be felt.
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
Updated & New
