CT Findings of Pediatric Handlebar Injuries

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia in childhood: a bicycle handlebar injury

A female patient in her middle childhood presented to the paediatric emergency room (ER) after a bicycle accident with an abdominal impact on the bicycle handlebar. On physical examination, a painful ecchymosis on the upper left quadrant was the only abnormal finding. Abdominal ultrasound showed no intra-abdominal lesions, and the patient was discharged home after 24 hours under monitoring. Nine days after the accident, she returned to the ER due to the emergence of an abdominal mass around the area of impact. Abdominal examination detected a tender non-fluctuating mass on the epigastric and left hypochondrium, and abdominal ultrasound revealed a muscle and aponeurosis disruption of the rectus muscle, with fat herniation and cytosteatonecrosis. A conservative approach was chosen, with ambulatory follow-up. One month after the accident, the patient was asymptomatic, no abdominal mass was palpable, and an abdominal CT showed a reduction of the muscle disruption and hernial content.

Handlebar Injuries: Not Always the Pancreas

This case report highlights a rare traumatic gallbladder rupture secondary to a handlebar impact to the abdomen. Traumatic gallbladder rupture is only seen in 1.9-2.1% of all reported abdominal trauma. The diagnosis can be delayed due to the rarity of injury and the non-specific symptoms that a patient may present with. This case highlights the need for high clinical suspicion based on the mechanism of injury and imaging studies (focused assessment with sonography (FAST) and computed tomography (CT) scan) to direct treatment of concurrent injuries to assure the best outcome and prevent complications and morbidity. This patient was treated surgically with cholecystectomy and was discharged in stable condition.

Paediatric pancreatic trauma in North Queensland: a 10-year retrospective review

PURPOSE

To establish the incidence of pancreatic trauma in North Queensland to the region's only tertiary paediatric referral centre, and to determine the patient's outcomes based on their management.

METHODS

A single centre, retrospective cohort study of patients < 18 years with pancreatic trauma from 2009 to 2020 was performed. There were no exclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Between 2009 and 2020 there were 145 intra-abdominal trauma cases, 37% from motor vehicle accidents (MVA), 18.6% motorbike or quadbike, and 12.4% bicycle or scooter accidents. There were 19 cases of pancreatic trauma (13%), all from blunt trauma and with associated injuries. There were 5 AAST grade I, 3 grade II, 3 grade III, 3 grade IV injuries, and 4 with traumatic pancreatitis. Twelve patients were managed conservatively, 2 were managed operatively for another reason, and 5 were managed operatively for the pancreatic injury. Only 1 patient with a high grade AAST injury was successfully managed non-operatively. Complications included pancreatic pseudocyst (n = 4/19; 3 post-op), pancreatitis (n = 2/19; 1 post op), and post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (n = 1/19).

CONCLUSION

Due to North Queensland's geography, diagnosis and management of traumatic pancreatic injury is often delayed. Pancreatic injuries requiring surgery are at high risk for complications, prolonged length of stay, and further interventions.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernias in the pediatric population: a 13-year institutional review

BACKGROUND

Pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare but potentially devastating injuries. Although classically considered to be caused by handlebar injuries from bicycle accidents, our anecdotal experience suggests pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are far more likely to occur following road traffic accidents and have a high association with other significant intra-abdominal injuries.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, mechanisms of injury, and associated injuries of traumatic abdominal wall hernias in the pediatric population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective observational cohort study from two large urban level 1 trauma centers. Institutional trauma registries were queried from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2020, for patients under 18 years of age diagnosed with traumatic abdominal wall hernias, excluding those without initial abdominopelvic CT imaging. Finalized CT reports and images were reviewed to confirm the presence of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia and document any associated secondary injuries. The medical record was reviewed to extract pertinent physical findings, interventions performed, and outcomes. Injury Severity Score (ISS) for each patient was calculated by the trauma registrar.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients with TAWH met inclusion criteria, with an overall frequency of 0.095% and a mean age of 10.6 years (range 3-17). Eleven patients were male (57.9%) with a mean ISS of 18.6 (range 1-48, including 63.2% with ISS > 15). The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle collision (N = 11, 57.9%) followed by bicycle accident (N = 3, 15.8%). A total of 17 (89.5%) had associated injuries, including 11 (57.9%) with intestinal injuries, 5 (26.3%) with pelvic fractures, 4 (21.1%) with femur fractures, 3 (15.8%) with splenic injuries, 3 (15.8%) with kidney injuries, and 3 (15.8%) with Chance fractures of the lumbar spine. All patients required surgery for the traumatic abdominal wall hernias and associated injuries.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are more likely to be seen following motor vehicle collisions, with a majority (89.5%) having associated injuries, most frequently to the bowel (57.9%). Handlebar injuries were seen in a minority of patients (15.8%) and were less likely to be associated with additional injuries.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Pediatric patients with a traumatic abdominal wall hernia on admission CT should be thoroughly evaluated for bowel injuries, especially in the setting of a motor vehicle collision.

WSES guidelines on blunt and penetrating bowel injury: diagnosis, investigations, and treatment

The aim of this paper was to review the recent literature to create recommendations for the day-to-day diagnosis and surgical management of small bowel and colon injuries. Where knowledge gaps were identified, expert consensus was pursued during the 8th International Congress of the World Society of Emergency Surgery Annual (September 2021, Edinburgh). This process also aimed to guide future research.