Citation

Ohanaka EC, Osime U, Okonkwo CE. West Afr. J. Med. 2001; 20(1): 48-51.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, West African College of Physicians and West African College of Surgeons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11505888

Abstract

Splenic injuries are common and require emergency treatment. Efforts are now geared towards splenic conservation by way of splenorrhaphy. Thirty cases of splenic injuries seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between June 1992 and June 1997 were evaluated with a view to assessing the pattern of injuries and the management with respect particularly to splenic conservation. Males accounted for 66.6% of cases and the age range was 3-57 years (mean 20.8). Road traffic accident was the leading cause (63.3%) of injury. Splenic injuries were graded in severity from grades one to five based on the organ injury scaling. Injuries in 3(10%) cases were Grade 1, 5(17%) Grade 2, 7(23%) Grade 3, 4(20%) Grade 4 and 9(30%) Grade 5. Because majority of the splenic injuries were severe only four (13.3%) in Grades 1 and 2 had salvage operation of splenorrhaphy. All the other patients had splenectomy. Splenic conservation has been little practiced but could be encouraged by the more experienced surgeons having more interest in preserving splenic functions.

Language: en