Welt (bruise)

A welt is a bloodshot stripe on the skin. They are haematoma, a special form of a bruise. Welts occur as a result of blunt force being applied to the body with elongated objects without sharp edges. Like other haematomas, welts change their colors as they heal, which usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. The colors include purplish black, reddish blue, brown or yellowish green.That makes it possible to determine their approximate age.[1] A special form of welts - when the impact tool is not flat - are double welts. They occur after blows with stick-like, long objects, such as a cane for caning, a riding crop or a garden hose. The energy of the striking tool hitting the skin forces the tissue fluid or tissue matrix to the outside of the instrument. This leaves a rather anaemic, brighter area of skin, so the area of impact of the striking tool on the skin is usually free of injury.[2] However, capillary vessels located under the skin at the edges of the impacting object rupture, resulting in two parallel, striated skin lacerations. Such double straps in a child are always suspicious of abuse and require clarification.[3][4][5]

Welts on the hand and forearm

References
  1. Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin
  2. Bleich S. (Editor): Ökologisches Stoffgebiet; F. K. Schattauer Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 2000, p. 332, ISBN 3-7945-2035-1
  3. Jacobi G, Dettmeyer R, Banaschak S, Brosig B, Herrmann B. Child abuse and neglect: diagnosis and management. Dtsch Ärztebl Int. 2010;107(13):231-240. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2010.0231
  4. Birngruber C.G., Lasczkowski G., Dettmeyer R.B. (2020) Kindesmisshandlung (engl.: Child abuse). In: Forensische Verletzungskunde. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. , browsed 24th Feb. 2022
  5. M. Grassberger, H. Schmid, A. Koenig: Toodesermittlung – Befundaufnahme & Spurensicherung – Ein praktischer Leitfaden für Polizei, Juristen und Ärzte; Springer-Verlag Wien/New York; ISBN 978-3-211-79959-8
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