The Role of Computed Tomography in Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Children

Abstract

This study was performed in order to test the hypothesis that abdominal computed tomography (CT) can assist in the decision to perform laparotomy in children following blunt trauma to the abdomen. Three hundred forty children with blunt abdominal trauma underwent evaluation with CT. Abdominal injuries were detected in 84 children (25%). These included: 75 injuries to solid viscera in 60 patients (30 splenic, 29 hepatic, 13 renal, and three pancreatic-; four injuries to hollow viscera (three small bowel transections, and one rupture of the urinary bladder); and 23 skeletal injuries (21 fractures of the pelvis, and two lumbar spine subluxations). Injury to solid viscera was categorized as minor in 32 (43%), moderate in 18 (24%), or severe in 25 (33%) according to an assessment of the percentage of parenchyma involved. Hemoperitoneum was detected in 42 patients, and characterized as small in 18 (43%), moderate in nine (21%), and large in 15 (36%). CT was useful in establishing the location and extent of injuries, and in detecting the presence of blood or air in the peritoneal cavity. However, the extent of injury to solid viscera detected on CT did not correlate with the need for laporotomy. Of 45 moderate to severe anatomic injuries of the liver, spleen or kidney, only five (9%) required surgical intervention because of persistent bleeding or infection. Although laparotomy occurred more frequently in the presence of a large hemoperitoneum, only 6/24 (25%) with moderate to large hemoperitoneum required surgical exploration. This analysis confirms the usefulness of CT for detection of location and extent of injury as shown on CT, but on the physiologic condition of the child.