Muscle contusions are very common sports injuries, second in frequency in athletes only tomuscle strains.
The most common areas of injury are the thigh, followed by the arm.
Typically, the issue is to exclude other, often more serious injuries.
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These injuries may include fractures (broken bones), dislocations, and complete muscle ruptures.
This causes a disruption of the small blood vessels called capillaries and bleeding into the muscle tissue.
After the initial injury, there is a gradual increase in inflammation over the next several days.
This causes disagreement among some doctors and scientists about the optimal treatment of muscle contusion injuries.
As the muscle tissue heals, many athletes fear the formation of scar tissue.
Early movement seems to help prevent scar formation.
Gentle range-of-motion activity is recommended and splinting or immobilization should be avoided.
If weight-bearing contributes to pain, crutches can help alleviate pain while allowing for some mobility.
The idea is they will decrease inflammation and move healing into the repair phase.
Studies have shown minimal effects and conflicting results.
Surgery
Almost all muscle contusion injuries are treated non-surgically.
Again, there is little scientific data to support this method of treatment.
Complications of Contusions
One of the unusual complications of a muscle contusion is called myositis ossificans.
Patients who develop myositis ossificans develop bone formation within the muscle tissue.
Typically, surgery is delayed for about a year before surgical removal.
Beiner JM, Jokl P.Muscle contusion injury and myositis ossificans traumatica.Clin Orthop Relat Res.
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Beiner JM, Jokl JM.
Muscle Contusion Injuries: Current Treatment Options.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg.
