Complications

Torn muscle fibers and torn muscles can cause inter- or intramuscular bleeding and thus the formation of hematomas due to the rupture. In the case of heavy bleeding, the injury area does not (completely) regress. Connective tissue grows into the bruise and a scar plate develops, which – as already described above – is not as elastic as the muscle tissue.

Thus, the muscle is composed of many areas with different elasticity: Muscle areas, muscle fibers that are newly formed and shorter, scar tissue that is less elastic… For this reason, the muscle’s ability to contract and exert force is considerably reduced compared to the period before the injury and is also more susceptible to new injuries, especially to renewed ruptures of muscle fibres, torn muscles or post-bleeding in the newly regenerated area. Under certain circumstances, the patient may still not be symptom-free even after the disease has completely healed. In most cases, this is due to pronounced scar tissue or calcifications in the area of the injury, which in rare cases must even be surgically removed.

There are other classic complications that can occur after a torn muscle fibre or torn muscle. In the following, two classic clinical pictures after such a disease will be discussed. They are these:

Myositis ossificans:Damage to the muscle as a result of torn or ruptured muscle fibers, severe muscle contusions or bruising and the resulting intra- or intermuscular bleeding, may lead to capsule formation of the injury if the treatment is inadequate or, for example, if massage is started too early (see above), training starts too early, etc.
As a result, the muscle inflammation becomes chronic and a transformation of the musculature takes place and finally calcification, which may slowly ossify. Similar to the formation of scar tissue, the ossifications in the muscle create areas of varying elasticity and contractility. The result is a varying contractile force of the muscle and thus an increased risk of injuries in these areas occurring again.

In cases of proven ossifications (X-ray diagnostics), surgical intervention may be considered under certain circumstances. There is a risk of further ossification as a result of the operation.
Formation of cysts: Cysts are sac-like tumors with a liquid content closed by a capsule. In the area of muscle injuries, one speaks of cyst formation when a capsule is formed around an unabsorbed bruise.
The unabsorbed blood of the original hematoma is then inside the capsule. If the cyst has a disturbing effect, it may have to be removed surgically. Especially if the bruise is still liquid or consists of pure wound fluid (seroma), it should be punctured.