Risk of late perforation in intestinal contusions caused by explosive blast

Abstract

Once identified at laparotomy, the number of small bowel contusions requiring excision may be reduced from 86 to 60 per cent; similarly, excision of colonic contusions can be reduced from 73 to 27 per cent if small bowel contusions smaller than 15 mm in diameter and colonic contusions of less than 20 mm are managed conservatively.