Bruise or ecchymosis?

[SneakySnake]

I said- "resident has bruising on arm and hip because they have been scratching"

Other nurse said- "It looks ecchymotic to me, not bruised....just my opinion"

I thought ecchymosis was bruising:o? Can anyone offer some clarification on this?

[legacy7kas]

This is a very good question as it comes up again and again. When charting objective data from a physical exam, the issue regarding the usage of the term "bruising" implies that the contusion was inflicted by an injury, specifically some type of impact or blow from an outside object. While as a whole, when we see the world "bruise" we view it as a simply a contusion of some sort. If someone was to scrutinize the terminology legally, "bruising" would declare both objective data indicating a contusion with subjective influences indicating that the contusion was caused from an outside influence.

I hope this clarifies the question.

[decker73]

The easiest way to "see" the difference for reference only...a bruise is a bruise is a bruise..

however, truly one is created by trauma while the other is not. think of the ecf patient who falls frequently (those are bruises) now think of the ecf patient who is bedridden but seems to have "bruises" that is just the pooling effect of the blood creating the purple, blue, yellow, black spots. this is ecchymosis.

However, you mentioned scratches being visible as well to the area of the bruising...therefore that is the trauma, it was not created naturally but through scratching...therefor BRUISING.. so...you are the smart one :)