A hematoma in the leg can cause bruising and swelling. This may occur following an injury, such as falling or being hit by something. You can often treat it at home with rest and a cold compress.

A hematoma results from a traumatic injury to your skin or the tissues underneath it.

When blood vessels under your skin are damaged and leak, the blood pools, resulting in a deep, large bruise. A hematoma forms as the blood clots, resulting in swelling and pain.

Hematomas can occur anywhere in your body, including your leg.

Keep reading to learn about the causes and symptoms of a hematoma in the leg and how to treat it.

Hematoma vs. bruise

A hematoma is different from a bruise.

While both involve blood gathering under the skin, a hematoma typically involves more pooling blood and causes a swollen lump, while bruises are flatter.

A hematoma may also be more painful than a bruise.

Although hematomas can appear elsewhere, if they appear on your leg, it’s usually due to injury, such as a blow to your leg from a fall or an encounter with a blunt object. They can also occur if you break or fracture a bone in your leg.

A hematoma can also form after you have certain leg surgeries.

Your potential for hematoma could increase if you’re taking medication that thins your blood, such as:

The risk of hematoma may also increase if you have a viral infection, such as:

Other conditions that can raise the risk of hematoma include:

The symptoms of a leg hematoma include:

Usually, the extent of the discoloration and swelling reflects the severity of the injury.

For example, fracturing your thigh bone (femur) is commonly associated with a significant amount of bleeding and will often result in a large hematoma.

When it’s an emergency

A bone fracture usually causes a hematoma. Symptoms can include:

  • intense pain in the injured area that gets worse with movement
  • numbness in the injured area
  • bluish color, swelling, or visible irregularity in the injured area (such as a leg being at an odd angle)
  • bone protruding through the skin
  • heavy bleeding or hematoma at the injury site

A bone fracture requires immediate medical care and potentially surgery to repair the fracture.

If you think you or someone else has a broken bone, contact 911 or your local emergency services. Practice first aid for broken bones until they arrive or until the person can be transported to a hospital.

If you develop a hematoma after an injury, it’s best to have a medical professional assess the area and recommend management strategies. You may have other injuries that need to be addressed.

If your injury is severe or you may have a broken bone, it’s best to get emergency medical attention.

If your injury doesn’t seem to be caused by a broken bone, you can contact a primary care doctor or visit an urgent care center. They can assess the area and recommend any imaging or treatment needed.

Hematomas usually clear on their own, slowly getting smaller over time as the body absorbs the accumulated blood.

How long this takes can vary depending on the size of the hematoma. It might take months for a large hematoma to be fully absorbed.

Commonly, a leg hematoma is treated with:

  • cold compress or ice pack application for 20 to 30 minutes for the 48 hours following injury to reduce swelling
  • rest
  • elevating your foot higher than your heart
  • light compression with a wrapped bandage or splint to keep the blood vessel from reopening as it heals, if a doctor recommends it
  • pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • heat for 10 minutes three times daily for 48 hours following the injury to increase blood flow

If you’re treating a hematoma at home, do not take aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These over-the-counter medications aren’t recommended because they can slow blood clotting and increase bleeding.

Medical procedures for hematoma

If you have a large hematoma on your leg, depending on its size and location, a doctor may recommend surgery.

A doctor might suggest draining it with a medical procedure if a large hematoma persists for several days after an injury.

If you bruise your leg and the bruise becomes swollen and painful, you could have a hematoma.

A hematoma on your leg could indicate an injury that is, or complications that are, more severe than you think, especially if the bruise doesn’t improve over a week or two.

A doctor can examine your leg and make a treatment recommendation. If you think you’ve broken your leg, be sure to get emergency medical attention.

Can I exercise with a hematoma?

It’s generally not recommended to exercise with a hematoma.

During your recovery, a doctor may recommend resting or gentle movement, such as walking. However, this can depend on the extent of your injury.

A hematoma on the leg usually results from an injury or surgery.

It happens when blood vessels under the skin or in the tissues around it bleed. This blood pools under the skin, resulting in a swollen lump that looks like a deep bruise.

It may need medical attention, particularly if you have a severe injury. Always seek emergency medical attention if you suspect a broken bone.

If not due to a severe injury, you can manage the symptoms of a hematoma at home, such as by applying a cool compress, resting your leg, and taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.