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    Instruction Sheet: Bruise/Hematoma: University of North Carolina Wilmington Abrons Student Health Center

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    Roman Co
    A bruise or hematoma was treated at the Abrons Student Health Center. A bruise is caused by broken blood vessels from an impact, while a hematoma is a blood collection under the skin. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling and discoloration. To treat it, the patient should rest the area, elevate it, apply a cold pack, take acetaminophen, and wrap it if on a limb. Seek additional care if symptoms worsen or do not improve after a week.

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    Instruction Sheet: Bruise/Hematoma: University of North Carolina Wilmington Abrons Student Health Center

    Uploaded by

    Roman Co
    21 views1 page
    A bruise or hematoma was treated at the Abrons Student Health Center. A bruise is caused by broken blood vessels from an impact, while a hematoma is a blood collection under the skin. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling and discoloration. To treat it, the patient should rest the area, elevate it, apply a cold pack, take acetaminophen, and wrap it if on a limb. Seek additional care if symptoms worsen or do not improve after a week.

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    A bruise or hematoma was treated at the Abrons Student Health Center. A bruise is caused by broken blood vessels from an impact, while a hematoma is a blood collection under the skin. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling and discoloration. To treat it, the patient should rest the area, elevate it, apply a cold pack, take acetaminophen, and wrap it if on a limb. Seek additional care if symptoms worsen or do not improve after a week.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    21 views1 page

    Instruction Sheet: Bruise/Hematoma: University of North Carolina Wilmington Abrons Student Health Center

    Uploaded by

    Roman Co
    A bruise or hematoma was treated at the Abrons Student Health Center. A bruise is caused by broken blood vessels from an impact, while a hematoma is a blood collection under the skin. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling and discoloration. To treat it, the patient should rest the area, elevate it, apply a cold pack, take acetaminophen, and wrap it if on a limb. Seek additional care if symptoms worsen or do not improve after a week.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Abrons Student Health Center

    INSTRUCTION SHEET: BRUISE/HEMATOMA

    The Student Health Provider has treated you today for a bruise or hematoma.

    A bruise is a discoloration of the skin caused by a blow. The blow breaks small blood vessels,
    releasing blood in the skin and fatty tissue under the skin. “Black and blue” discoloration results.

    A hematoma is a collection of blood which makes a bulge or swelling under the skin. The leaked
    blood is confined within a space and can't get out.

    Symptoms of a bruise/hematoma include pain, tenderness to touch, swelling, and discoloration. Pain
    ranges from absent (with a simple bruise) to fairly significant (with a large amount of bleeding and
    swelling).

    Be aware that another area of discoloration often appears below the area of a severe bruise or
    hematoma several days later. Gravity pulls the blood downward between the layers of tissue.

    A bruise or hematoma usually goes away with time: The blood in a bruise or hematoma is eventually
    reabsorbed and put back to use by the body.

    MEASURES YOU SHOULD TAKE TO HELP TREAT YOUR BRUISE / HEMATOMA:

    1. Rest the affected area.


    2. Elevate the affected area. Elevation helps reduce pain and swelling. If the injury is on an arm or
    leg, keep the limb above the level of your heart.
    3. Apply cold packs to the area off-and-on for the first two days after injury. Cold helps ease
    discomfort, and minimizes additional swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the area, causing
    discomfort. Rather, aim for coolness, yet comfort, applying a layer or two of cloth between the
    cold pack and affected area
    4. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken for discomfort. Aspirin should be avoided, as it tends to
    increase bleeding.
    5. If the bruise is on a leg or arm, compression (wrapping with an ace wrap) may help. Compression
    is especially helpful after 24 hours, when you begin to gradually resume activity.
    6. After two days, warm soaks may help heal the bruise more quickly.
    7. Return promptly to the Student Health Center if your condition worsens. Specifically, seek care
    for a sharp increase in pain, a sudden, large increase in swelling, or pain/numbness/lack of color
    in an arm or leg below a bruise.
    8. Return to the Student Health Center or schedule a follow-up appointment with your
    personal/referral provider if the pain and swelling are not progressively decreasing over days to a
    week.

    SHC rev 5/12

    Abrons Student Health Center · 601 S. College Road · Wilmington, NC 28403 · 910-962-3280 · Fax 910-962-4130
    After-hours advice: Call Vitaline 910-815-5188

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