Definition
Horse kiss is a colloquial term for a bruise in the area of the thigh, knee or calf. The medical term for this is contusion. The term “horse kiss” is probably derived from injuries caused by hoof kicks, which result in painful bruises.
In some regions of Germany it is also called deer, knuckle of pork or thigh. The term “horse kiss” is usually used to describe those thigh bruises that occur in sports involving violent physical contact, such as when an opponent is violently rammed. The skin is typically intact in this case, as the forces are blunt.
Causes of a horse kiss
The causes of a thigh contusion are blunt external violent impacts. These include kicks, blows or falls. If you talk about a horse kiss in sports, an opposing player is usually involved. Especially in contact sports like handball and soccer and in martial arts, horse kisses are common and happen accidentally or intentionally. The visible swelling and the resulting bruise are due to a contusion of the muscles and injury to small blood vessels through which blood leaks into the tissue.
Diagnosis of a horse kiss
Diagnostically, horse kisses can be quickly identified as a gaze diagnosis when the triggering situation is remembered. Even with moderate physical contact, larger bruises can occur. The lateral thigh is particularly sensitive to this – the cause is the not very flexible tendon plate that runs through it, the tractus iliotibialis.
Diagnostically groundbreaking can be previous illnesses and medications of the affected person, which increase the sensitivity to bruising. These include people with the hemophilia or the use of blood thinners. If an injury can be ruled out as the cause of the horse kiss, further clarification should be obtained from the doctor.
Symptoms of horse kissing
A horse kiss is very painful. The pain in the thigh usually occurs acutely after the injury and can become even worse under pressure or strain. The injury to vessels causes blood and lymphatic fluid to leak into the tissue around the affected area and a bruise (a so-called haematoma) and swelling occur.
The area initially appears reddened and is very sensitive to pain. A horse kiss can significantly restrict mobility. During the course of healing, the bruise takes on different colors within a few days, first blue, then purple to brown, green and finally yellow.
