title: Evolving colon injury management: a review.
abstract: The colon is the second most commonly injured intra-abdominal organ in penetrating trauma. Management of traumatic colon injuries has evolved significantly over the past 200 years. Traumatic colon injuries can have a wide spectrum of severity, presentation, and management options. There  is strong evidence that most non-destructive colon injuries can be successfully managed with primary repair or primary anastomosis. The management of destructive colon injuries remains controversial with most favoring resection with primary anastomosis and others favor colonic diversion in  specific circumstances. The historical management of traumatic colon injuries, common mechanisms of injury, demographics, presentation, assessment, diagnosis, management, and complications of traumatic colon injuries both in civilian and military practice are reviewed. The damage control revolution  has added another layer of complexity to management with continued controversy.
authors: Department of Surgery, General Surgery Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
authors: Lauren T
authors: LT
authors: Greer
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Gillern
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Vertrees
mesh_terms: D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D003125:Colostomy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014857:Warfare; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy