Which injury is described as caused by blunt force trauma?

A contusion is defined as an injury resulting from blunt force trauma that causes damage to blood vessels beneath the skin, leading to bleeding and discoloration. This type of injury typically occurs when a person bumps into something or gets hit by an object, resulting in localized swelling or bruising without breaking the skin. The characteristics of a contusion involve a direct impact that causes soft tissue injury rather than injury to a joint or muscle, which distinguishes it from other types of injuries like strains, sprains, or fractures.

A strain refers to the overstretching or tearing of muscles or tendons, while a sprain involves the stretching or tearing of ligaments around a joint. Both of these injuries can occur through different mechanisms such as twisting or excessive force without necessarily involving blunt force trauma. A fracture, on the other hand, involves a break in a bone due to significant trauma, which can also be caused by blunt force, but in the context of the question, a contusion specifically refers to the resultant soft tissue injury from such impact.