What is the difference between hemorrhage and hematoma

There are many differences between them, including the blood vessels affected, appearance and symptoms, and healing time. In this article, you'll learn how to distinguish bruises from hematomas. You'll also learn why and how they develop, and what can be done to treat them.

Bruises result from small leaks from small blood vessels, like capillaries. When they occur under the surface of your skin, they are usually quite visible. Initial black and blue skin discoloration changes to a yellow, green, or light brown color within five to 10 days. These bruises are flat, although mild swelling may be present. They can be tender to the touch. Bruises can also form in deeper tissues, like those that make up muscles and bones.

Though you won't see them, you will feel pain and soreness in the area of the injury. Bruises usually heal on their own after the bleeding stops, which takes a week or two. They rarely cause dangerous complications, but can if they are extensive or accompanied by an additional problem. For example, a black eye from a facial fracture may cause vision problems. Hematomas are larger bleeds and often involve larger blood vessels.

With a hematoma, the leaking blood pools and clots to form a firm and tender mass. Hematomas can form deep within the body, such as within a muscle or in or around an internal organ. They can also form underneath the skin, on the scalp, nose, or ears, or under a toenail or fingernail. When closer to the surface of the skin, the hematoma appears as a painful lump that is initially red, black, or blue. As hematomas break down and absorb the firm collection of blood, they eventually change to yellow or brown.

Hematomas can become quite large and collect enough blood to cause low blood pressure and shock. Very large hematomas, like those that develop within the muscular wall of the abdomen, can cause organs to shift or stop working properly. Healing time for a hematoma can range from weeks to months. The most dangerous types of hematomas affect the brain and skull. Since the skull is a closed-off area, blood can become trapped inside the skull and put pressure on the brain.

This may result in brain damage, coma, or death. There are two types of skull hematomas:. Symptoms of a potential intracranial hematoma include:. Paralysis, seizures , and loss of consciousness are the most serious symptoms of a skull hematoma. Anyone with a head injury who is experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention right away. Head injuries need to be closely monitored to allow for prompt surgical intervention, if needed.

Both bruises and hematomas occur when a force usually a blunt one directly strikes the skin causing one or more blood vessels to break open. Trauma from car accidents, sports injuries, falls, and medical procedures or surgeries are typical causes. Orthopedic injuries and fractures broken bones may also cause bruising or a hematoma. There are also factors that increase a person's chances of forming bruises or hematomas.

One major one is advanced age. As you age, your skin thins and becomes more fragile, making you more prone to bruising. Likewise, older individuals are at a higher risk for developing hematomas, especially subdural hematomas, even with a minor injury. There are also various health problems that increase your risk of bruising or developing hematomas. In their own unique ways, these conditions impair the ability of injured blood vessels to stop bleeding:. An injury can cause blood vessel walls to break, allowing blood to make its way into the surrounding tissue.

Hematomas may occur in any blood vessel, including veins, arteries, and capillaries. The location of the hematoma may change its nature. A hematoma is similar to a hemorrhage, but a hemorrhage refers to ongoing bleeding while the blood in a hematoma has typically already clotted.

The type of hematoma depends on where it appears in the body. The location may also help determine how potentially dangerous it is.

Injuries and trauma are the most common causes of hematomas. Any damage to the walls of the blood vessels may cause blood leakage. This blood pools as it escapes the blood vessel, causing a hematoma. Injuries do not have to be severe to cause hematomas. People may experience a hematoma under their toenail from a simple injury, such as stubbing their toe.

More significant injuries, such as those sustained from vehicle crashes, falling from a height, or an aneurysm can also cause severe hematomas. Some surgical procedures, including medical, dental, or cosmetic operations, may lead to a hematoma as they can damage nearby tissues and blood vessels. Some blood thinners may also increase the risk of hematomas. People who regularly take aspirin , warfarin, or dipyridamole Persantine may be more likely to experience bleeding problems, including hematomas.

Internal hematomas may be more difficult to recognize. Anyone who has been in an accident or sustained a serious injury should regularly check in with a doctor to screen for hematomas. Hematomas in the skull may be particularly dangerous. Even after seeing a doctor about an injury, it is essential to keep an eye out for new symptoms, such as:.

Symptoms may not present immediately, but they usually appear within the first few days. The authors of a study noted that the symptoms of subdural hematomas tend to occur within 72 hours of the injury. The discoloration and tenderness in the affected area tend to make people believe that hematomas and bruises are the same. A bruise develops when blood leaks from smaller blood vessels, causing a purple, blue, or darkened spot to appear on the skin.

The bruise changes color as it heals, typically lightening or turning yellow before fading completely. Hematomas can lead to additional complications such as infection of the clot. Diagram of the infant scalp showing the locations of the common hematomata of the scalp in relation the layers of the scalp. Hemorrhage: Leakage of blood outside the blood vessel is considered as hemorrhage. Hematoma: Accumulation of blood within tissue planes is considered as hematoma formation. Hematoma: In hematoma, tissue resistance has some effect on preventing further expansion of the blood clot.

Hemorrhage: Bleeding can occur from any blood vessel and could occur even outside the body or into body cavities. Hematoma: Hematoma always occurs inside the body and occurs only in relation to certain sites which are favorable for hematoma formation.

Hemorrhage: Bleeding may need surgical ligation of the blood vessel in a severe bleed. Hematoma: Hematoma may need surgical evacuation of the hematoma other than ligation of the responsible vessel.

Some bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding , coughing up blood, or vaginal bleeding , can be a symptom of a disease. Normally, when you are injured and start bleeding, a blood clot forms to stop the bleeding quickly.

Afterwards, the clot dissolves naturally. To be able to make a clot, your blood needs blood proteins called clotting factors and a type of blood cell called platelets. Some people have a problem with clotting, due to another medical condition or an inherited disease. There are two types of problems:. Sometimes bleeding can cause other problems. A bruise is bleeding under the skin. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain.