What is a contusion?

A contusion is defined as a bruise resulting from blunt force trauma that causes damage to the small blood vessels beneath the skin without breaking the skin's surface. This type of injury leads to bleeding and swelling in the surrounding tissues, which results in the characteristic discoloration seen in bruises. The blunt force trauma might be caused by a fall, collision, or any impact that compresses the skin and underlying tissues.

In contrast, an abrasion refers to a scrape or wearing away of skin that does not necessarily involve underlying tissue damage to the extent seen in contusions. A puncture wound is specifically a result of a pointed object penetrating the skin, which is entirely different from how a contusion is formed. Lastly, a laceration is a tear or cut in the skin, rather than a bruise, differing from the mechanisms of injury and characteristics of a contusion. These distinctions help clarify why a contusion is uniquely characterized by internal bleeding and coloration changes rather than surface injuries or punctures.