Yes, a hematoma can cause significant damage, ranging from temporary functional impairment to permanent injury or even death, depending on its size, location (especially in the brain, spinal cord, or organs), and whether it's treated; pressure from the pooled blood can damage nerves, restrict blood flow, cause tissue death, and disrupt organ function. While small bruises (minor hematomas) often heal, larger or deep ones, particularly intracranial hematomas from head injuries, are medical emergencies requiring urgent attention to prevent serious complications like brain damage.
Subdural haematomas can be very serious injuries and even with the best care, there is a high risk of death. People with serious subdural haematomas can be left with long-term or permanent problems, such as problems with walking, talking and thinking. They may also have seizures (fits).
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if: The bruise lasts longer than 4 weeks. The bruise gets bigger or becomes more painful. You do not get better as expected.
If a haematoma is left untreated and the pressure within the haematoma exceeds the blood pressure in the dermal and subdermal capillaries, it may result in a large area of necrosis of the overlying skin. Therefore, an urgent evacuation of the haematoma must be performed to release the tension over the skin.
Do not self-medicate: Avoid taking medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen without consulting a healthcare professional, as they can increase the risk of bleeding. Do not drain the hematoma: Do not attempt to drain a hematoma yourself. This could lead to infection and worsen the situation.
With a hematoma, the leaking blood will pool and clot, or form clumps of blood. This can cause a hard and tender mass. When it is closer to the skin surface, a hematoma may look like a painful red, black, or blue lump. As it breaks down, the skin will eventually change to a yellow or brown color.
Minor hematomas often resolve within a few days to a couple of weeks. Larger or deeper hematomas may take several weeks to a few months to fully heal. Proper rest, elevation, and avoiding strenuous activities can help speed up the healing process.
Home treatments
Sometimes, hematomas can go away on their own. If you have a muscular hematoma, doctors generally recommend the RICE method — rest, ice, compression, and elevation to reduce the swelling and give it time to heal.
Most hematomas eventually dissolve, but in some cases they may continue to grow or show no change.
They will usually advise a person to avoid certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, which thins the blood and may make the hematoma worse. Sometimes, a hematoma may require surgical drainage. Surgery may be more likely if the blood is putting pressure on the spinal cord, brain, or other organs.
Subdural hematoma
A hematoma that gets bigger can cause gradual loss of consciousness and possibly death. Subdural hematomas can be: Acute. This most dangerous type is generally caused by a bad head injury, and symptoms usually appear immediately.
Drainage or Aspiration: Large or symptomatic hematomas may require drainage or aspiration. This procedure involves using a needle and syringe to withdraw the accumulated blood from the hematoma. It can relieve pain, reduce swelling, and accelerate the healing process.
In most cases, even your most gruesome-looking bruise isn't going to turn into a blood clot. A bruise occurs when blood vessels are damaged, causing blood to pool under the skin, while blood clots form inside veins or arteries to stop bleeding.
The TEN-4-FACESp bruising rule is a clinical screening tool for children under 4, flagging bruises in the Torso, Ears, Neck, 4 (infants 4 months & younger with any bruise), FACES (Frenulum, Angle of jaw, Cheeks, Eyelids, Subconjunctivae), and p (patterned bruising) as potential signs of child physical abuse, requiring further evaluation for non-accidental injury. It helps doctors identify concerning bruises that are less likely accidental, especially in immobile infants or when bruises have specific shapes or locations like the cheeks or behind the ears.
If the hematoma symptoms are severe or if it continues to expand over the course of a few days, you should visit your doctor right away. Emergency medicine, urgent care, primary care physicians frequently care for patients with hematomas. A primary care doctor can diagnose a soft tissue hematoma in a physical exam.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
A hematoma needs draining if it's large, growing, causing significant pain, putting pressure on vital structures (brain, spine), preventing healing, or showing signs of infection (pus, warmth, redness, fever), especially if conservative treatments aren't working, as drainage relieves pressure and prevents complications like abscesses or tissue damage.
Some doctors suggest you wait about 4 weeks after a hematoma or ecchymosis resolves to resume flying.
It will likely go from red to purple or blue as the blood under the skin breaks down. Swelling and pain should start to decrease, but some discomfort may remain. Healing Phase (7-14 days): During this time, the hematoma will start to turn yellow or green as the blood is reabsorbed by the body.
Without surgery, some subdural hematomas can resolve spontaneously through the body's natural reabsorption process. However, larger or expanding hematomas can progressively increase pressure inside the skull, leading to permanent neurological damage, coma, or even death if untreated.
Hematoma injuries also present a significant risk for infection. Hematomas are created by the pooling of blood outside of the blood vessel, but, without a constant flow of new blood, bacteria begins to grow. Infections caused by the growth of bacteria can quickly become life threatening.
A bruise first begins as a pinkish, red color, changes to dark blue or purple, fades to violet, green, dark yellow, and turns a pale yellow until it completely disappears. A bruise will usually completely heal in 2 weeks.
Increased Pressure: As a hematoma expands, it can exert pressure on surrounding tissues, organs, or structures. This can lead to compression or displacement of nearby structures, potentially causing pain, functional impairments, or complications specific to the affected area.