Publication:

Jejunal transection after blunt abdominal trauma: a case report

Blunt trauma to the abdomen resulting in small intestinal injury is a mystique associated with relative infrequency, mechanism of injury, location and difficulty in diagnosis. Missed or delayed diagnosis was implicated as a major contributor for high mortality. Small bowel injuries are uncommon after Blunt Abdominal Trauma (BAT) and are usually due to high energy deceleration injury, commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents. The possibility of occult intestinal injury must be kept in mind in all patients presenting with blunt abdominal trauma, despite paucity of physical signs. In cases reported in other series, the intestine is one of the third most commonly injured organs in blunt trauma. We present a report on a case of jejunal transection that occurred after a blunt injury to the central abdomen with delayed presentation that had a few clinical signs and although the chest radiograph was negative, a high index of suspicion and timely exploration in this case led to prompt surgical intervention and a successful outcome.