A bruise of the shoulder joint is a rather serious injury in which soft tissues and ligaments are severely damaged.
It is important to diagnose and treat this condition in time so that it does not cause complications.
Bruised shoulder: symptoms and first aid
Immediately after a shoulder bruise, the victim has the following symptoms:
1. Acute pain syndrome, which manifests itself not only with hand movements, but also at rest.
2. Swelling of the shoulder joint (subcutaneous hematoma formation is possible).
3. Smoothness (swelling) of the contours of the joint.
4. Isolation of fluid in the joint cavity (can be detected only after ultrasound).
5. Pain on palpation.
6. The formation of bruises and bruises from red to purple.
7. Severe hemorrhages (may occur if there are open wounds).
8. Rupture of one of the muscles. Usually it is accompanied by severe swelling and retraction of tissues in the joint by 5-7 cm.
With a bruised shoulder, it is important to know that this is an injury, not a fracture. To distinguish the first from the second is simple: in case of a fracture, the mobility of the shoulder joint will be completely limited, which cannot be with a bruise.
In addition, with a fracture, the victim will experience a characteristic crunch in the bones.
First aid for a bruised shoulder includes such actions:
• inspect the hand (it cannot be straightened or extended independently);
• immobilize the hand. To do this, it must be bandaged to the body half bent 90 degrees;
• if the integrity of the skin is damaged, then you need to treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide and apply a sterile dressing;
• wrap ice in a tissue and apply to the affected area for 10 minutes. After that, take a break for 5 minutes and repeat the procedure again;
It is important to know that it is impossible to keep ice at the site of a bruise all the time, as this can lead to frostbite on the tissues and impaired circulation.
• ensure peace for the victim for several hours. If during this time the swelling and pain do not subside, then you need to contact a traumatologist.
Shoulder bruise: diagnosis and treatment
As a diagnostic procedure, after examining the damaged shoulder, the doctor may prescribe a joint fluoroscopy and ultrasound.
These studies will help assess the severity of the injury and rule out the possibility of a fracture. In addition, an ultrasound scan will show the condition of the muscle tissue and articular capsule.
The treatment for a bruised shoulder depends on the complexity of the injury. It is carried out comprehensively with the use of drug therapy (injections, tablets and ointments), as well as restorative physiotherapy.
First of all, the following drugs are prescribed to the patient:
1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve inflammation and swelling (Nise, Movalis, Celebex). The duration of their intake should be 3-5 days.
2. With severe pain, a novocaine solution is injected into the affected joint. Also, he can be prescribed analgesics and drugs for pain relief (Ketanov, Diphenhydramine, Analgin).
The victim himself must observe bed rest in the first days after a bruise. His arm and the entire shoulder joint should be bandaged with an elastic bandage. This is necessary to fix the hand, as well as to restore normal blood circulation.
If in the first 2-3 days after an injury to the shoulder joint blood and fluid began to collect in it, then in this case the patient may undergo a puncture (pumping out excess fluid from the joint). If the hematoma continues to develop further, then the patient is set to drain for 1-2 days.
In a stable condition, the patient is prescribed local treatment. To do this, you can use anti-inflammatory ointments and gels (Voltaren, Dolobene gel, Diclac gel). It is also allowed to apply cold compresses (with ice) to the shoulder for 10-15 minutes.
Physiotherapeutic treatment can be prescribed for 5-7 days after a shoulder bruise. The following procedures are considered the most effective:
• magnetotherapy;
• electrophoresis;
• paraffin applications on the affected joint area;
• electrical stimulation.
The final treatment method for bruised shoulder is massage. It can be done only after a complete restoration of joint mobility and the disappearance of acute pain syndrome (as a rule, this can be achieved no earlier than a week after a bruise).
This therapeutic massage will restore blood circulation and tone of damaged muscles. It is done by rubbing and stroking the skin towards the venous outflow. The duration of such a procedure should be at least 20 minutes.
What will happen if the shoulder injury is not treated
With untimely assistance after a shoulder injury, a person may experience the following complications:
1. Hemarthrosis (accumulation of blood and uterus in the joint cavity). Often this happens with severe damage to blood vessels. The accumulated fluid will still have to be pumped out surgically, since because of it a person may lose joint mobility.
2. Infections and inflammation of the joint can lead to traumatic bursitis.
3. Post-traumatic arthrosis can develop even several months after a shoulder injury. With this disease, cartilage tissue is very damaged. Because of this, a person will suffer from constant pain.
4. The formation of subcutaneous hematoma due to the lack of timely treatment. Also, such a hematoma can appear if, immediately after a bruise, a cold compress was not applied to the victim’s shoulder.
5. An increase in body temperature due to a strong inflammatory process.
6. The suppuration of the wound that was received with a bruised shoulder.
7. Synovitis - excessive fluid production in the joint cavity. It occurs as a reaction of the body to severe inflammation and changes in the joint cavity after an injury.
8. The shoulder-gland periarthrosis occurs due to chronic inflammation of the joint capsule and tendons.
9. Impaired joint mobility due to tendon damage. Most often this happens in older people who have not been treated for shoulder bruise with massage and physiotherapy.
With timely medical care, the shoulder joint can be completely restored after a bruise in 2-3 weeks.
