title: Blunt colonic injury--a multicenter review.
abstract: During the past decade there has been a shift in the management of injuries of the colon to primary repair without a protective diverting colostomy. Unfortunately, reports concerning this practice contain relatively few patients with blunt trauma and it is unclear whether the principles established for penetrating injury should be applied in the setting of blunt colon injury. A retrospective review of 54,361 major blunt trauma patients admitted to nine regional trauma centers from January 1, 1986, through December 31, 1990, was conducted. Statistical analysis of the data collected regarding 286 (0.5%) of these patients who suffered colonic injury revealed: (1) injury to the colon is found in more than 10% of patients undergoing laparotomy following blunt trauma; (2) available diagnostic modalities are unreliable in detecting isolated colonic pathology; (3) primary repair of full-thickness injuries or resection and anastomosis may be safely performed without diversion; (4) gross fecal contamination is the strongest contraindication to primary repair. Further, delay of surgery, shock, and the timing of antibiotic administration were not associated with significantly increased morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, New Jersey.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cobean
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mucha
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pietropaoli
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Pachter
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Cogbill
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: DeMaria
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Malley
mesh_terms: D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries*; D003125:Colostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014194:Traumatology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*