Risk of splenic injuryassociated with fracture of 9th, 10thand 11thribsin blunt trauma

Abstract

Spleen is the intra abdominal organ most frequently injured in blunt trauma ,suspension of splenic injury should be raised in any patient with blunt trauma to the abdomen and lower left side of chest(blow,fall,or sport related injury.{3}This study was done in the emergency department (ED)in ALHussein teaching hospital (ALNassiria) during 2 years( between 15thmarch2007 to 14thfeberory 2009) 96patients [ 62malesand34females].Patients present as a trauma to the abdomen and/or lower chest. 74 of those patients have rupture spleen with fracture of left lower ribs proved by chest x-ray,abdominal US and C.T scan. To evaluate percentage of splenic injury associated with fracture of left lower ribs we did such study. About 54%of those patient get splenic injury associated withfracture of 3 lower ribs and 24% of patient get splenic injury associated with fracture of 9th&10thribs and about 11% associated with single rib fracture especially10th rib and about 11% have no splenicinjury although they have fracture ribs.Patient with fracture of lower 3 ribs have high risk of splenic injury about double risk from those who have 2lower rib fracture .and triple to those who have single rib fractureespecially 10th rib which regarded most effective rib in splenic injury ,and about 11% 0f patients have no association splenic injury even some of them with 3 ribs fracture.