Clinical study of bowel injuries following blunt injury abdomen

Background: Blunt injury abdomen due to trauma is one of the most common surgical emergencies all over the world due to increased incidence of accidents. Intestine is the third most common injured organ following blunt injury abdomen. Aim: To study the clinical presentation, management and outcome of intestinal injuries following blunt abdominal trauma. Materials and methods: It was a prospective study of 60 patients who presented with intestinal injury due to blunt injury abdomen to our hospital. The study period was from January 2014 to December 2015. All the patients who underwent laparotomy and were diagnosed to have bowel injuries like intestinal perforation, transection, mesenteric injury leading to gangrene secondary to trauma were included in the study. Patients with simple mesenteric injuries without intestinal injury and simple serosal tears were excluded. Results: 44.8% patients had perforations which were less than 1.5 cm in diameter. 34.4% patients had perforations which were more than 1.5 cm in diameter. 20.6% patients had complete transection. 6 patients had gangrene.4 patients had multiple perforations. Conclusion: Males are more commonly affected than females and age group of 20 ? 35 years are affected. Small intestine is the most commonly injured part of bowel. Fixed portions of bowel to the parietes are more commonly injured.