Are hematomas (hematomas) warm to the touch?

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Last updated: April 24, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Haematomas are typically warm to touch, especially in the early stages after injury, due to the body's inflammatory response increasing blood flow to the area. This is evident in the context of vascular access complications, such as those discussed in the kdoqi clinical practice guideline for vascular access: 2019 update 1, where infiltration of the vein can lead to swelling, bruising, and pain, all of which are associated with increased blood flow and warmth. The development of hematomas as a result of infiltration or leaking of blood around the puncture site during or after dialysis treatment can also lead to localized warmth, along with other symptoms like pain and swelling. Key characteristics of haematomas include:

  • Warmth to touch, especially in the early stages
  • Swelling and bruising
  • Pain, which can vary in intensity and location
  • Potential for complications such as thrombosis or stenosis if the hematoma is large or becomes infected. Management of such complications, as outlined in the guideline 1, emphasizes the importance of assessing the extent of swelling, pain, and patient anxiety, and providing appropriate comfort measures and analgesic administration on an individual basis.

From the Research

Haematomas and Temperature

  • Haematomas are typically characterized by their physical properties, but temperature is not a commonly discussed aspect in the provided studies.
  • There is no direct evidence in the studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 that suggests haematomas are warm to touch.
  • The studies focus on various aspects of haematomas, such as treatment 2, 3, infection risk 5, and management 4, 6.
  • None of the studies provide information on the temperature of haematomas, making it difficult to determine if they are warm to touch.

Infection and Haematomas

  • Some studies discuss the risk of infection associated with haematomas, particularly in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices 5 or hematologic malignancies 4.
  • However, these studies do not mention the temperature of haematomas as a factor in infection risk or diagnosis.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.