Abstract
Abdominal trauma constitutes 3–5% of all pediatric admissions. Blunt injury is more common than penetrating injuries. A child’s abdomen is more prone to injury by virtue of its anatomical characteristics:
-
Small size of the abdomen predisposes the child to multiple injuries as energy from the force is dissipated over a small area.
-
Ribs are flexible and more compliant, hence less effective in protecting the upper abdominal structures (e.g., spleen, liver).
-
The diaphragm being more horizontal pushes the liver and spleen below the rib cage.
-
Solid organs in child are relatively large; more surface area is exposed.
-
Muscle, fat, and fascia are thin.
-
The bladder is intra-abdominal due to shallow pelvis and hence more prone to injury.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Suggested Reading
Wesson DE, Cooper A, Stylianos S, editors. Pediatric trauma pathophysiology diagnosis and treatment. 1st ed. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis; 2006.
Coran AG, Caldamone A, Scott Adzich N, Krummel TM, Laberge JM, editors. Pediatric surgery. 7th ed. Oxford: Elsevier; 2012.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Choudhury, S.R. (2018). Abdominal Trauma. In: Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6304-6_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6304-6_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-6303-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-6304-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)