Journal of Trauma & Treatment

Frequency and Pattern of Intra-Abdominal Injuries in Patients with Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

Adnan Aziz, Rafaqat Bota and Mushtaq Ahmed

Introduction: Trauma is the most common cause of mortality among the age group 1-45 years, causing loss of productive days more than other notorious diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and malignancies. This study was conducted to describe the frequency and pattern of intra-abdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.

Method: This was an observational study on blunt abdominal injury, which was conducted in surgical unit III, of Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical centre, Karachi. Study included a total of 50 cases of blunt abdominal trauma (data including from July, 2012 to November, 2012). These cases were above the age of 12 years and of both sexes, who came to Accident and Emergency department.

Results: Study included 41 (82%) male and 9 (18%) female patients with ratio of 5.4:1 respectively. There were 15 (30%) patients who suffered from hepatic injuries. Thirteen patients (26%) had splenic injuries. Intestine (from stomach to anal canal) was injured in 11 patients (22%), five patients were with injured small intestine, 2 with stomach and duodenum and rest of the 4 with large gut injuries. Pancreas was injured in 2(4%) patients. Mesenteric tear was found in 3 (6%) patients and 2 (4%) had ruptured diaphragm. Five patients (10%) had retroperitoneal hemotoma. Renal injury was recorded in 3 (6%) patients and 2 patients had urinary bladder injuries.

Conclusion: No abdominal organ is safe from injury. Solid organs are injured more in blunt abdominal trauma. In this study, liver is the organ most commonly injured in blunt abdominal trauma followed by spleen, gut, retroperitoneal hematoma and other organs.

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