Bruising And Inflammation Basics

What is a 'bruise' or 'contusion'?

A contusion is just that - a bruise. It's an area that's been impacted, there's bleeding, there's black and blueness around the area. It's an area of direct blunt trauma.

What is a 'hematoma'?

A hematoma is a bloodclot, and it can start off as a bruise. Large hematomas can develop in areas where there is a lot of blood trauma. For example, being hit in the thigh by a helmet - a football player without pads - and it bleeds into an area. Sometimes these wall off and need to be drained, but a hematoma is essentially a collection of blood.

What is a 'hemobursa'?

A bursa is a potential space - for example, the most common is the bursa of the elbow or above the knee. Hemo means blood, so it is blood in this potential space.