What is a bruise? We will talk about this in the presented article. Also in it you will find information about what degrees are inherent in such a painful condition.
General information
What is a bruise? Under this concept, damage to tissues and small vessels, as well as their concussions, not accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the skin (with rare exceptions) should be considered.
The difficulty in classifying this condition lies in the fact that absolutely any part of the body, including internal organs, can be affected by this type of injury.
Features of bruises
Speaking about what a bruise is, it should be emphasized that it is often combined with such types of injuries as concussion, abrasion, lacerations of internal organs, ruptures, dislocations and fractures.
Bruises quite often lead to the formation of hematomas and bruises. In this case, the color of the skin can serve as a certain parameter, on the basis of which the statute of limitations of the injury is easily determined. In the first hours, the color of the bruise is red-purple. Then it becomes blue-purple, brown-green and with a yellowish tinge.
Types of injury (degrees)
Now youknow what an injury is. In modern medicine, such an injury is classified as follows:
- First degree. The skin is slightly damaged. It may show minor abrasions or scratches. Such a bruise resolves painlessly and on its own in 3-4 days.
- Second degree. The injury is accompanied by muscle rupture, which leads to the formation of a hematoma and edema. At the same time, the patient feels a sharp pain.
- Third degree. This type includes bruising of the bone, damage to the tendons or muscles, as well as concomitant dislocations. Such blows are especially dangerous when it comes to injuries to the head, knee, joints or coccyx.
- Fourth degree. It is the most pronounced and is accompanied by changes that completely disrupt the normal functioning of human organs and systems. His general condition may be critical.
Consequences of injury
When injured, the consequences are not long in coming:
- When the shin is bruised, where the subcutaneous tissue and skin are adjacent to the bone, tissue necrosis and their subsequent rejection are possible.
- When falling on poorly protected soft tissues, there is not only severe pain in the periosteum with its detachment, but also bone damage such as fractures and cracks.
- An oblique blow against the surface of the skin can cause their detachment with subcutaneous tissue.
- When hitting soft tissues, hemorrhage increases. Do not be surprised if you see that this area of the body is swollen. The bruise hurts a lot, and alsothe place becomes saturated with blood, resulting in hemarthrosis.
- When a joint is injured, its function is disturbed, pain intensifies.
- Slight swelling may occur when hitting the head. If the injury is accompanied by weakness, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, then this indicates a concussion or even a bruise of the brain.
- When the neck is injured, blood flow can be disrupted, which affects the blood supply to the brain.
- When the back or spine is injured, the circulation of the spinal cord is disturbed.
- When a chest injury occurs, only local changes are noted, but with a strong blow, breathing can be disturbed or even stopped.
- Bruised abdomen accompanied by organ damage.
- At the impact site, shallow skin wounds and abrasions are formed, through which pathogens of various infections enter the body.
First Aid
What to do if you get hurt in a fall? Treatment for such an injury should be mandatory.
First aid for a bruise is to inspect the damaged area. If the injury occurred on the limb, then it is necessary to check its functions.
When symptoms of a bruise are detected, cold should be applied to the injured area. This will cause a spasm of the vessels of the microvasculature and help stop internal hemorrhage.
It is better not to use drugs for pain relief for bruises, so as not to miss the deterioration of the patient's condition whencomplications. If there is confidence that the internal organs were not damaged as a result of the injury, then the victim can be given some kind of painkiller, but not Aspirin.
In case of a severe bruise of the head with loss of consciousness, as well as a bruise of the lower back, chest or abdomen, in addition to applying a cold compress, the patient should be laid on a hard surface and immediately call an ambulance. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the bruised place is immobilized.
Bruises: treatment at home and in the hospital
Treatment of bruises in a hospital is required only when an injury of considerable force has occurred. For example, bruises of the head, lower back, abdomen and chest require immediate hospitalization of the patient in the surgical department. After carrying out appropriate diagnostic manipulations, doctors decide on further treatment of the injury. In the most severe cases, surgery is performed. Access to the damaged area is carried out through endoscopy or in an open way. At the same time, ruptures of parenchymal organs and large vessels are sutured, and the blood that appears is removed. After that, the wound is drained.
At the same time, the patient is prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
It should also be noted that minor injuries can be treated on their own. Proponents of traditional medicine recommend following these guidelines:
- On the first day, cold soaks must be applied to the site of the bruise. For their preparation, herbs such asSt. John's wort, plantain, wormwood, yarrow and heather.
- Chilled tea leaves are also used to treat bruises.
- Another effective remedy for a tumor is bodyaga. Pharmaceutical powder is diluted with water, and then the resulting slurry is smeared with the bruised area, and covered with a cloth or compress on top.
- To treat an injury in the joint area, do a light massage using a drop of essential oil of fir, geranium or lemon.
- The bruised area can be lightly rubbed with Asterisk balm.
- From severe bruises of the limbs, such a simple folk remedy as cottage cheese helps to get rid of. A cold dairy product is applied to a sore spot and kept for about ¼ hour.
Using these recipes, you can get rid of a bruise in a short period of time and prevent its consequences.
