You and your partner are responding Code 2 for a 38 year old male who was struck in the head with a ball while playing baseball. During your RBS you find that your patient has an obvious lump on their head that is bluish in color. This injury would be best described as a(n) ________.

The injury described in the scenario is best characterized as a hematoma. A hematoma occurs when blood vessels break, leading to localized bleeding outside of the blood vessels. The presence of a bluish lump on the head indicates that there is a collection of blood pooling in the tissue under the skin, typical of a hematoma. This type of injury is often caused by trauma, such as being struck on the head, which fits the situation given.

In contrast, a fracture refers to a break in the bone, which would require further assessment of the skull and may not necessarily present as a discoloration on the surface. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that often results from a blow to the head but is characterized by symptoms such as confusion, headache, or altered consciousness, rather than a visible lump. A contusion is a bruise that affects the skin and underlying tissue, but it does not typically imply the collection of blood that would be indicated by the term hematoma, which specifically denotes a localized buildup of blood. Thus, the distinct visual characteristics and context of the injury point clearly to a hematoma as the most accurate description.