Delayed Presentation of Colonic Injury Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Delayed presentation of an isolated sigmoid Colon injury following blunt abdominal trauma: A case report with review of literature

Introduction and importance

Isolated Colon injury due to blunt abdominal trauma is very rare. Due to lack of a definitive diagnostic method; it's very challenging to detect such injury and this will lead to delay in treatment and subsequently resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The current literature is relatively sparse concerning the management of blunt colon injuries.

Case presentation

Here, we report a case of a 17-year-old male patient with isolated sigmoid injury presented 5 days after MVC. He underwent sigmoid resection and end colostomy followed by reversal 6 weeks later. Currently, the patient is disease-free with a completely healed wound.

Conclusion

The purpose behind this paper is to raise clinical suspicion regarding delayed presentation of blunt abdominal trauma and it effect on operative decision, so that timely diagnosis and proper management could be carried out. And to discuss the applicability of the defined management algorithm for penetrating colon injury on delay blunts colonic injury.

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Isolated Colon injury due to blunt abdominal trauma is very rare and its very challenging to detect.

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We have found that only few cases have been reported for Delayed Presentation Of An Isolated Colonic Injury Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

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The purpose of this report is to discuss surgical management in light of our experience.

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We believe that the defined management algorithm for penetrating colon injury can’t be applied to delay injury as in this case the colon are more vulnerable which increases risk of post-operative complication.

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Additional research is needed to completely define the patient population that benefits from fecal diversion after delayed blunt colon injury requiring resection.