Myocardial contusion

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Heart, front view

Heart, section through the middle

Blunt myocardial injury

Treatment is usually supportive. Patients are watched for 24 hours with continuous ECG monitoring. Some may require pain medication for sternal pain.

The expectation is that a full recovery will occur.

The main complication is that the bruising may lead to myocardial infarction (heart muscle death). This may lead to prolonged weakness in the ability of the heart to contract.

Review Date: 05/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.