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What Causes Bruising And Swelling In Knee After Falling?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016
Question: Hi - I fell on the ice and hit the side of my knee and now a vein looks liken it has been bruised and has swollen to the size of a quarter - do I need to get it checked for a blood clot or will it heal ok on its own? I am flying on an air plane in 2 days?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
you'd better check it

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

although a bruise after an accident is not unusual and it's the most likely cause (unless it got swollen a couple of days later), you'd better ask your doctor to have a look because in cases of an injury and particularly if the area is swollen there is an increased risk for thrombosis. Superficial vein thrombosis is not as dangerous as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT needs anticoagulants almost always, while superficial vein thrombosis normally does not. There is some risk for propagation of the clot and for serious complications but this risk is very low. Also please note that superficial vein thrombosis is usually accompanied by pain. The pain is usually more intense than the pain of the injury itself!

In any case, your doctor should be able to look for signs of thrombosis and identify suspicious findings.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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What Causes Bruising And Swelling In Knee After Falling?

Brief Answer: you'd better check it Detailed Answer: Hello, although a bruise after an accident is not unusual and it's the most likely cause (unless it got swollen a couple of days later), you'd better ask your doctor to have a look because in cases of an injury and particularly if the area is swollen there is an increased risk for thrombosis. Superficial vein thrombosis is not as dangerous as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT needs anticoagulants almost always, while superficial vein thrombosis normally does not. There is some risk for propagation of the clot and for serious complications but this risk is very low. Also please note that superficial vein thrombosis is usually accompanied by pain. The pain is usually more intense than the pain of the injury itself! In any case, your doctor should be able to look for signs of thrombosis and identify suspicious findings. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information. Kind Regards!