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Contusion vs. Concussion: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Author: Spinalcord.com Team
Publish Date: May 20, 2020
Contusions-and-Concussions-Are-Similar
Newly-initiated spinal cord injury survivors are hit with a dizzying array of terms to remember—and doctors aren't always the best at simplifying what their endless list of jargon actually means to patients. For example, two terms that are closely associated with head/brain injuries are contusion and concussion. These terms are often used semi-interchangeably by non-experts, but doctors often have a set definition in mind when they use either term.
“What is a contusion? What is a concussion? How do the two terms differ from one another? What treatments are available for each? How can I tell if I have a contusion or a concussion?” People who have experienced any kind of severe head injury often have questions like these. Here is some information to help you answer these questions:
What is a Contusion?
What is another name for contusion? The word “contusion” is basically another word for a bruise—a collection of blood not in a blood vessel. Contusions can also be referred to as hematomas (based on the Greek words for “blood” and “mass”).
Contusions can occur in any part of the body subjected to trauma that ruptures blood vessels. For example, say you get hit hard in the arm with a baseball, and it bruises. That bruise could be called a contusion by medical professionals. Or, say you fall hard on your back, and it bruises. That could be a sign of a spinal contusion—which can be every bit as bad as a contusion in the brain.
What is a Concussion?
The term “concussion” generally refers to widespread brain trauma due to a blow to the head, shaking, or a similar injury. While contusions can happen anywhere on the body, concussions are specific to injuries that affect the brain—and may not involve visible bruises.
The effects of a concussion are varied, and may change in severity depending on the location of the injury, the severity of the force applied to the brain, and the quality of care following the injury.
Contusion Vs Concussion
Infographic: Concussion vs Contusion
One might assume a concussion is just a more serious contusion. The reality is that the two injuries are fundamentally different. While they are related, and one can cause the other, understanding the difference between a concussion vs contusion can help you get a better idea of what to expect from your recovery journey.
Because both contusions and concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and because both are often the result of a fall or blow to the head, it's easy to confuse the two. Even more confusing is the fact that you can have both at the same time.
A contusion does not mean you have a concussion, but some contusions are caused by head trauma so severe that the damage affects a larger portion of your brain. Likewise, a concussion does not necessarily indicate a contusion, since shaking and other brain injuries can produce brain damage without visible bruising.
The difference between the two ultimately comes down to a simple distinction:
A contusion is any injury that causes blood to collect under the skin. Contusions range from relatively minor to life-threatening. Because the blood must clot to stop the bleeding a bruise results from, contusions also increase cardiovascular risks.
A concussion is an injury resulting specifically from brain trauma. These injuries can have both temporary and lasting
