What is a myocardial contusion?

A myocardial contusion is specifically defined as a bruise or injury to the heart muscle resulting from blunt trauma. This condition typically occurs during events such as car accidents or chest impacts that apply significant force to the thorax, leading to damage without the heart experiencing a full-thickness tear or laceration.

Correctly understanding myocardial contusion involves recognizing that this type of injury does not stem from infectious processes, such as those implied by infection of cardiac muscle, nor does it relate to valvular diseases or structural tears within the cardiac tissue. Instead, the blunt trauma leads to localized bleeding and edema within the heart muscle, which can affect its function depending on the severity of the injury.