Traction as a cause of gallbladder avulsion

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Trauma Surgery
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Blunt abdominal trauma is a common emergency.
• Gallbladder injuries are infrequent consequences of abdominal trauma.
• Peritonitis necessitates prompt surgical intervention.

Observation:

• A 25-year-old male presented with peritonitis post-blunt abdominal trauma.
• Laparotomy identified a band connecting the transverse colon to the gallbladder.
• This band caused a partial avulsion of the gallbladder.

Findings:

• Gallbladder avulsion is a rare traumatic injury.
• Traction secondary to a colonic band is a newly described mechanism for gallbladder avulsion.
• The injury pattern suggests a specific mechanism involving adhesions and blunt force.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of potential gallbladder injury mechanisms in blunt abdominal trauma.
• Clinicians should consider traction injuries in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder trauma.
• Further research may elucidate the biomechanics of such rare injuries.