[Cutaneous and subcutaneous hematomas observed in dermatology: 17 cases].
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous hematomas are a cause of hospitalization in departments of dermatology. Their clinical diagnosis can be difficult, particularly since they can masquerade as thrombophlebitis or abscesses. We conducted a retrospective study so as to specify their frequency, clinical aspects and circumstances of occurrence.


METHODS
The search for hospitalizations was conducted, using a computer data coding and key word "hematoma", from January 1997 to March 2003. The following items were studied: age, gender, clinical aspect on admission, topography, use of anti-platelets or anticoagulants, the existence of documented overdosing, treatment before hospitalization and existence of fever.


RESULTS
The 17 patients hospitalized for hematomas were 9 women and 8 men with a mean age of 71 years. Thirteen patients were treated with: antivitamin K (5 cases), low molecular weight heparin (3 cases), anti-platelets (4 cases), or a combination of antivitamin K and anti-platelets (1 case). Four patients had no antivitamin K or anti-platelet treatment; their coagulation control was normal and they were younger than the patients taking a treatment (55 versus 76 years). The hematomas always involved the lower limbs. The clinical aspect was: simple hematoma (3 cases), inflammatory or over-infected hematoma (11 cases) and post-hematoma ulceration (3 cases). Seven patients were febrile either before or during their hospitalization. A context of trauma was noted in 10 patients. In the 9 patients treated with antivitamin K or low molecular weight heparin, overdosing was documented in 5. The treatments received before hospitalization were: general antibiotherapy (7 cases), local antibiotherapy (1 case) and low molecular weight heparin (7 cases).


CONCLUSIONS
Hematomas of the legs usually occur in elderly patients, treated with anticoagulants or anti-platelets. They present in the form of ecchymotic tumefaction, frequently inflammatory or febrile. Therapeutic overdosing is common. The ratio with the erysipelas hospitalized in our department is of 1/8; over the past 5 years we have observed a mean of 3 cases per year. Hence they are not uncommon and dermatologists must be aware of their clinical aspects and the circumstances in which they occur.
Estève
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E
Service de Dermatologie, CHR Orléans, Hôpital Porte Madeleine, BP 2439, 45032 Orléans Cedex 1. eric.esteve@chr-orleans.fr
Armingaud
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P
Martin
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L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue