Presentation
High speed motor vehicle collision.
Patient Data
2.6 cm long splenic laceration not involving the hilum with a small volume of perisplenic free fluid. No pseudoaneurysm. Liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys and adrenal glands all appear uninjured.
Left pneumothorax (partially imaged). Subcutaneous emphysema in the left lower chest wall, left abdominal wall and left inguinal region.
Unfused L1 transverse processes. Left L3-L5 transverse process fractures. S1 and S2 posterior element fracture.
Case Discussion
This is an example of a low-grade splenic injury that did not require any active management (e.g. splenectomy or splenic artery embolization) and the patient recovered well with conservative management only.