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Splenic Contusion and Rupture, Sports Medicine

Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • The spectrum of splenic trauma consists of contusion, hematoma, laceration, and rupture.

  • Most commonly associated with blunt abdominal trauma in contact or collision sports

  • Also noted ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Blunt, splenic injury can occur through a variety of mechanisms.

  • An underlying inflamed spleen can manifest with history of antecedent upper respiratory tract infection, fevers, or eas...

TREATMENT

  • The approach to blunt splenic injuries has changed over time from aggressive surgical interventions to more conservative, nonoperative management (NOM) or endovascular management.

  • Regarding a...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Reimaging need/frequency determined by response to resuscitation, persistent abdominal pain, persistent evidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)...

REFERENCES

1
Juyia R, Kerr H. Return to play after liver and spleen trauma. Sports Health.  2014;6(3):239–245.
2
Stassen NA, Buhllar I, Cheng JD, et al. Selective nonoperative management of blunt sp...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Crichton J, Naidoo K, Yet B, et al. The role of splenic angioembolization as an adjunct to nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Splenic contusion and rupture occur in a variety of sports and can be subtle initially. Consider spleen injury in the differential of patients with abdominal pain.

  • “Delayed rupture” of ...

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