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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Most hematomas can be evaluated and safely treated without laboratory or radiology tests. Often the care provider will be able to take a history and perform a physical examination and decide that no further evaluation is required.

However, depending upon the injury or presentation, blood tests may be ordered, including a hemogram to assess the red blood cell count (often the hemoglobin and hematocrit are measured) and clotting studies, including an INR (international normalized ratio), and PTT (partial thromboplastin time, a blood test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot). The INR is routinely measured in individuals taking the blood thinning medication warfarin, to help monitor the individual's medication dosing.

Depending upon the site of injury or other associated factors, the care provider may request other testing be done. CT scans are useful in looking for blood in the brain or abdomen. Ultrasound is often used for pregnant patients who present with vaginal bleeding.

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