Stages of a Contusion (Bruise)

What is the pathophysiology behind the different color changes of a bruise?

Contusion (Bruise)

    • Due to blunt force trauma.
    • Characterized by extravasation of blood into the soft tissues with pain and swelling.
    • May reproduce the pattern of the object striking the skin.
    • Typically have unbroken skin.
    • Can only occur in a living person because there is a lack of circulation postmortum.

Note: Time Frame is quite variable and not very reliable but the sequence of color changes and what they represent is testable!

 

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Category: Pathology Mnemonics

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