A bruise is a closed injury to tissues or internal organs while maintaining the integrity of the skin. As a rule, such an injury is a consequence of the mechanical influence of a damaging agent.
Bruises can occur when falling from a height, when striking with a hard blunt object, when squeezing between objects.
Clinic and symptoms of bruises
The bruise is manifested by a number of symptoms:
- Swelling. It appears due to the movement of inflammatory fluid, blood, lymph into the subcutaneous fat. The last is more at the site of damage, the more swelling will be.
- Bruising (bruise). Their prevalence will depend on the strength of the damaging agent. They can be in the form of point hemorrhages, or in the form of a hematoma.
- Pain. It is a consequence of tissue compression by inflammatory exudate.
- Impaired function.
Based on the color of the bruise, one can judge the time that has passed since the day the injury was received. In the first hours, the bruise site has a crimson-red color, which is then replaced by a crimson-blue. After 5-6 days, this color changes first to brownish-green, and then to yellowish.
Severity of bruises
Bruises can be classified by severity:
- I degree. Clinical manifestations are mild, do not cause a person unpleasant sensations. Recovery occurs on 3-4 days.
- II degree. A bruise of this degree changes the normal life of a person. The pain is sharp, trauma to the soft tissues leads to the formation of edema and hemorrhage.
- III and IV degrees. A bruise severely limits the function of the damaged area. Muscles and tendons are severely injured.
First aid in case of bruises
First aid is a set of measures aimed at saving the health and even human life. Such help should be able to provide any person who was near when injured by the injured.
First aid for bruises is as follows:
- Cool the injury site. Frozen foods from the refrigerator, ice, snow, a towel dipped in cold water, etc. can act as a cooling item.
- In the presence of various damage to the skin - abrasions, scratches, they must be treated with antiseptic solutions - hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine solution.
- Immobilization of the limb. In case of joint damage, it is necessary to immobilize the limb, for example, using a tire.
- Give the damaged limb an elevated position.
- Anesthesia. With severe pain, the patient can take an anesthetic from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Since the procedure for providing assistance with bruises depends on the location of the injury, it is necessary to consider each particular case.
Soft tissue injury
Soft tissue refers to the muscle, subcutaneous fat layer and skin integument. With a bruise, the appearance of a bruise and edema is characteristic, since in soft tissues the blood and inflammatory exudate tend to spread.
First aid for soft tissue injuries is to apply a cold compress. If the victim has scratches and abrasions, then the skin is treated, a sterile dressing is applied. To reduce pain, painkillers - NSAIDs are used. They can be used orally in the form of tablets, topically in the form of ointments.
After reducing pain, you can do a light self-massage to reduce swelling. For resorption of hematomas, ointments are used, which include heparin or leech extract.
In case of deterioration of well-being, as well as in the absence of improvements, it is necessary to consult a doctor for specialized help.
Bruised limbs
Such damage is characterized by the presence of pain during movement, increasing edema and bruising.
First aid for a bruised arm or leg involves cooling the site of injury. A cold compress is applied immediately after injury for 10-15 minutes to prevent the formation of edema. Damaged skin is treated with any antiseptic solution and covered with a sterile dressing. Damaged limbs give an elevated position.
For pain, measures to reduce pain are necessary - taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The injury site is treated with ointments based on NSAIDs, heparin.
If you suspect a violation of the integrity of the ligaments, damage to the joints, it is necessary to immobilize the limb and contact a trauma center or surgical department.
Head injury
Head injury is a fairly serious pathology, since there is a high risk of brain damage.
With a usual soft tissue injury, so-called bumps are formed, which arise as a result of the infiltration of subcutaneous fat with inflammatory infiltrate. First aid for a bruised head of this nature is to use a cooling compress.
With a strong effect of a damaging agent, more serious damage is possible - subaponeurotic and subperiosteal hematomas, fractures of the skull bones, intracranial hematomas. Therefore, with severe bruises, you should always consult a specialist.
A serious consequence of injury is brain damage. Any violation of consciousness and well-being should be the reason for going to the hospital.
Brain contusion
This damage is a consequence of a traumatic brain injury, during which the brain structures are traumatized. The frontal and temporal lobes are most susceptible to damage.
A brain contusion is dangerous, as cerebral edema is formed, which leads to the development of dislocation syndromes. Such syndromes include wedging of the cerebellar tonsils into the occipital foramen, temporal-tentorial displacements, and others.
The main symptoms of brain damage depend on the degree of injury.
- Easy degree. Damage of this severity is characterized by loss or clouding of consciousness. The patient is in a stupor, cannot describe the events that led to the injury. Against the background of edema, intracranial pressure increases, which leads to dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Focal symptoms are not expressed, there is nystagmus, anisocoria.
- Medium degree. As a rule, consciousness is absent for several hours. After consciousness has returned, the patient is practically in a stupor, in a stunned state. Cerebral symptoms are characteristic - headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, meningeal symptoms, as well as focal disorders. The patient may feel a violation of the sensitivity of certain parts of the body. Deviations in the regulation of vital vital functions are observed - respiratory failure, heart rate.
- Severe degree. The patient is unconscious for several days. Disturbance of vital functions is characteristic - respiration, palpitations, thermoregulation.
First aid for brain contusion is urgent hospitalization. While waiting for help, if the patient is unconscious, it is better to turn it over and lay it on its side. This action will prevent the retraction of the tongue and aspiration of vomit. To reduce the rate of increase of edema, it is advisable to give the head an elevated position. Be sure to monitor breathing, heart rate and pressure.
Contusion of the internal organs
Damage to internal organs is also a fairly serious pathology. Such damage is often the result of car accidents, falls from a height.
Internal organs can be damaged both in the abdominal cavity and in the chest.
Assistance to the patient in this case will be an urgent hospitalization. Before the ambulance arrives, the patient should be laid on his back, put on a tight bandage, apply cold. Prior to the arrival of specialists, it is better to refuse drug anesthesia, since taking medications can change the clinical picture.
Bruised joints
The main symptom of joint damage is impaired mobility. This is due to the fact that the inflammatory infiltrate penetrates the articular cavity. Due to edema, the joint grows in size, assuming an ellipsoidal shape. In order to reduce the pain, the victim involuntarily bends the limb, fixing it in a forced position.
First aid for uncomplicated bruises is to apply a cold compress to the site of damage. In more severe conditions, it is necessary to immobilize the limb, to cool the site of the bruise. If necessary, give an anesthetic and contact a medical institution.
First aid for severe bruises
As a rule, treatment of severe bruises involves contacting a specialist. Damage to this severity can be accompanied by accumulation of blood in the joints (hemarthrosis), extensive hematomas. Then you need to perform a puncture to drain the blood. Sometimes it is possible to use incisions to remove accumulated fluid.
First aid for severe bruising is to provide rest, applying a cold compress, anesthesia.
Also, with severe bruises, it is possible to exfoliate the skin from deep-lying fascia, aponeurosis. With this pathology, the use of a pressure dressing is necessary.
After reducing pain, a therapeutic massage, warming up, therapeutic exercises are used to resolve the edema.