Common Visceral Injuries in Patients with Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess the common visceral injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma in tertiary care teaching hospital.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted from 21st June 2016 to 21st December 2017among 50 abdominal blunt trauma patients attending at Casualty Block, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, after obtaining requisite consent from the patients attendant. Data were collected through the assessment and investigation report of abdominal blunt trauma patients in the Casualty Department. The collected data were entered into the computer and analyzed by using SPSS (version 20.1) to assess the common visceral injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.

Results

Most of the patients were from 21-30 years (36%) of age group followed by 11-20 years (32%). The median age of this study population is 27 years. Of the study population, 84% (n=42) were male and 16% (n=8) were female. Male-female ratio was 84:16. Of the blunt abdominal trauma predominant mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents, accounting for 60% followed by fall from height (24%). Most of the patients presented with abdominal pain (96%) or abdominal distension (80%). Overall patients with blunt abdominal trauma most commonly injured organ was liver (32%) in this present series followed by small bowel injury (28%).

Conclusion

The liver is the most commonly affected (42.85%) in blunt trauma injuries, followed by the small bowel injury (28%). The appropriate authorities should consider this information when instituting public health and safety initiatives.