Search

Purpose: To describe the findings and limitations of color doppler ultrasound (CDUS) compared to enhanced CT in the evaluation of pediatric renal trauma and to determine the indications for first line imaging work up., Patients and Methods: 17 children (9 girls) aged 3 to 18 years were shown to have one or multiple post-traumatic renal lesions. All renal lesions were unilateral. All children presented with hematuria (microscopic (n=8), gross (n=7), not specified (n=2)). 16 had CDUS and enhanced CT (gold standard). A 13-year old girl had been imaged by both CDUS and IVU., Results: No correlation between the degree of hematuria and the severity of renal lesion could be found. Final diagnosis was: fracture with uro-hematoma (n=6), contusion (n=5), pedicular lesion (n=2), clotted ureter (n=1), intra cystic hemorrhage (n=1), subcapsular hematoma (n=1), urinoma with no evidence of fracture (n=1), extra-urinary lesion (n=7). In four cases, CDUS was abnormal but the diagnosis of fracture had not been made. In 3 cases, a uro-hematoma was present and CDUS misdiagnosed a pedicular lesion., Conclusion: Imaging strategy should not rely on the type of hematuria. Presence of a urinoma alters the sensitivity of CDUS. When performed in ideal conditions, a comprehensive normal CDUS examination is probably sufficient to exclude a major renal injury.

Traumatic lesions of the pancreas are rare (3-12% of abdominal trauma). In Central Europe most of them are due to blunt trauma. We reviewed the series from four university and one central hospitals in Switzerland over a period of ten to twenty years. Among these 75 cases, 84% were consecutive to blunt trauma. All the cases with an open injury were operated on rapidly. 15 patients with blunt trauma were treated conservatively. Out of the 58 operated patients, 20 had a caudal resection, 3 a pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis and 1 a duodeno-pancreatectomy. The others were drained. Nine patients died, 5 of them as a direct consequence of the pancreatic lesions. The morbidity was high (48%). After an open abdominal trauma, or when the patient remains unstable after blunt trauma an emergency laparotomy should be undertaken. It can lead to damage control surgery as a first step when the general and local conditions are bad. When the patient is hemodynamicaly stable, a conservative approach should be considered. The best diagnostic tools are repeated CT-scan and amylasemia. A differed operation is indicated only if the general and local condition deteriorate.

Management of Blunt hepatic injuries is dramatically modified since early 80's. Non operative management is presently used in over 80% of all cases, irrespective of haemoperitoneum and grade of injury. Close observation of the patient is requested. Laparotomy or laparoscopy must be decided in any case of suspected missed injury. Laparotomy is used for worse hemodynamic status. Peroperative mortality is mainly attributed to haemorrhage. Aggressive surgery has progressively given place to more conservative techniques. Understanding of coagulopathy related to massive transfusions, acidosis and hypothermia led to enhance efficacy of manual compression of the injured liver and of perihepatic packing and planned reoperation. In survivors this abbreviated laparotomy has pitfalls and complications which must be known, mainly rebleeding and abdominal compartment syndrome. Decision of very early reoperation is most difficult to take.

Injury to the diaphragm is a marker of severe trauma yet remains one of the most misdiagnosed traumatic lesions. The mechanism may be penetrating (stab or gunshot wounds) or blunt (high velocity injuries). Rupture of the diaphragm may be overlooked due to common associated injuries. Diagnosis is based on strong clinical suspicion and repeated chest x-rays. Current diagnostic tools include CT scan and minimally invasive surgical techniques (laparoscopy or thoracoscopy) in stable patients. These relatively new methods could provide more accurate diagnosis. The main feature of diaphragmatic injury is the incidence of late presentation with the possibility of life-threatening complications such as strangulations may even occur late.

The data of 62 adult patients with isolated blunt splenic trauma were retrospectively analysed to determine the value of a CT score-system in the choice of treatment: nonoperative treatment versus surgical management. 22 patients (35%) without hemodynamic instability presenting with pain localized in the left flank were primarily managed conservatively. 3 of them subsequently required splenectomy. 40 patients (65%) were operated immediately, 32 on the basis of clinical criteria and 8 on the basis of laboratory criteria. 45 patients with no initial haemodynamic disorders were investigated by abdominal CT-scan. Splenic injuries were retrospectively classified according to Resciniti's CT-scoring system. 13 patients had a splenic injury score > or = 5.5. All of them were operated, 11 early and 2 after failure of conservative management. According to our study this score > or = 5.5, which concerns 21% of our patients, can be considered to be an indication for surgery; in this case, a conservative approach should not be at tempted, even in the absence of immediate clinical and laboratory operative criteria.

Twenty nine patients with blunt liver trauma were recorded in the Central Hospital of Yaounde between 1986 and 1996. The average age was 23.4 years, with the 20 to 25 and 5 to 15 age groups being the most affected. The most characteristical clinical presentation was hemoperitoneum with shock. Twenty-three patients were operated (18 in emergency and 5 secondary). While 6 patients benefited from non operative treatment due to their stable hemodynamic state. Exploration of lesions revealed 16 grade I and grade II, 8 grade III and 5 grade IV and V lesions. The operation was a simple suture in 13 cases, selective ligature of hepatic artery in 2 cases and 2 tamponades while in 4 cases the treatment was inactive. The bleeding could not be controlled in 2 cases. Peri-operative mortality was 17.39% and morbidity 21.74%, made up mainly of parietal sepsis. In our practice, blunt liver trauma are generally benign and treatment should be conservative.

The authors report a retrospective series of 65 cases of renal contusion in children affecting 45 boys and 20 girls between the ages of 10 months and 15 years (mean age: 10 years). The causes of renal trauma were dominated by household accidents (53.8%) and road accidents (33.8%). Associated extrarenal lesions were observed in 21.5% of cases. 55.4% of the 65 contusions were considered to be benign, 27.7% of moderate severity and 16.9% were serious. The blunt trauma affected a pathological kidney in 19 cases. Exclusively medical treatment was recommended in 31 patients, while surgery was indicated in the other 34 patients. Apart from one death in a context of multiple trauma, few complications were observed in the group of operated patients and consisted of 4 cases of urinary fistula and 4 cases of infection, all of which resolved.

We present a review of the literature and results of a survey involving 50 closed scrotal traumas. Based on this analysis, we propose an anatomoclinical classification of scrotal contusions based on what we consider to be the most appropriate therapeutic management.