Which type of injury involves bleeding under the tissues?

A hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels, typically in the tissues. This occurs when there is an injury leading to the rupture of blood vessels, resulting in bleeding beneath the skin or in the tissues. While both contusions and hematomas involve bleeding, a contusion specifically refers to the bruise formed due to blunt force trauma and does not encapsulate the blood as a hematoma does.

In the context of sports medicine, recognizing a hematoma is important for proper treatment. It generally indicates a more severe injury than a simple bruise and may require medical intervention if it does not resolve or if it affects function.

Fractures and sprains refer to injuries involving bones and ligaments, respectively. A fracture involves a break in the bone, while a sprain involves the stretching or tearing of ligaments, neither of which directly encompasses the concept of bleeding under the tissues as a hematoma does.