Traumatic Injuries of the Gall Bladder

Abstract
Traumatic perforation of the gall bladder is infrequent, occurring in approximately 2% to 3% of all patients with abdominal injury (Table 1). The possibility of damage to this organ must be considered, however, as failure to recognize its existence may result in fatality, whereas the operative management is usually attended with good results. Most reports from civilian hospitals within recent years contain only isolated case presentations. It therefore seemed appropriate to evaluate this type of injury in a city-county hospital where a large number of abdominal injuries are treated. MATERIAL A review of the records of all patients treated for traumatic wounds of the abdomen at Jefferson Davis and Veterans Administration Hospitals for the 15-year period ending 1955 revealed that 25 patients had sustained an injury to the gall bladder. Fourteen (56%) of the injuries were due to bullets, nine (36%) to stab wounds, and two (8%) to blunt trauma