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June 20, 2013
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Bruises (cont.)

Medical Author:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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When to Seek Medical Care

  • Call the doctor if the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain.
  • Call the doctor if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition and notice significant bruising.
  • Call the doctor if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason.
  • Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail.
  • Call the doctor if a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks.
  • Go to the hospital's emergency department if you think you have a broken bone along with the bruise.
  • Some bruises, such as those on the head or the eye, can cause a lot of anxiety.
    • If a bruise (sometimes called a "goose egg") occurs on the head, but the person did not black out and is able to remember the accident, it is unlikely that a serious head injury has resulted. On the other hand, if the person cannot remember what had happened and you suspect the person may have a concussion, he or she should be taken to the nearest emergency department.
    • If a bruise occurs on the face just above the eye, you can expect the bruise to travel to the area just under the eye, possibly causing a black eye, because of the effects of gravity. As long as you are able to move the affected eye in all directions and do not have changes in your vision or a headache, it is unlikely to be a serious injury that requires a visit to the hospital.

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Black Eye A black eye is a relatively common result of some injury to the face or the head. A black eye is caused when blood and other fluids collect in the ...learn more >>
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Bruises - Causes

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What was the cause of your bruise?

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Muscle contusion indicates a direct, blunt, compressive force to a muscle.

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