[Traumatic splenic injuries]

Abstract

Splenectomy is the frequently used surgical method for the treatment of traumatic splenic injuries. In this study, the patients who had traumatic splenic injuries were investigated and the results of surgical treatments were evaluated. There were 225 patients with traumatic splenic injuries, which contains 55 (24%) female and 170 (76%) male. The mean age was 29 (range 16-71) years. Severity of splenic injury was classified according to Moore organ injury scaling and there were 23 (10%) patients in grade 1, 96 (43%) in grade II, 75 (33%) in grade III, 24 (11%) in grade IV and 7 (3%) in grade V. Splenectomy was performed in 203 (90%) patients, splenoraphy in 18 (8%) and partial splenectomy in 4 (2%) patients. The overall mortality was 12%. A positive correlation was estimated between the combined trauma and the mortality (Fisher's Chi-Square test; chi 2 = 9,538, p < 0.002). In conclusion, non-operative treatment methods may prevent unnecessary splenectomies, especially in grade I and II blunt or penetrating splenic injuries. Combined injuries are the major factor increasing the mortality.