[Acute colonic pseudoobstruction following fixation of a pertrochanteric fracture]

Acute colonic pseudoobstruction, following traumatic injuries, is a rare diagnosis. Nevertheless it is life threatening, if it is not recognized and treated promptly. We report one case of this so-called Ogilvie's syndrome, which followed fixation of a trochanteric fracture by intramedullary nailing within 2 days. Due to massive acute colonic distension, the patient suffered from respiratory failure. We excluded other intestinal diseases by CT scanning. After conservative colonic decompression, he recovered after 2 days in the intensive care unit. We describe a variable treatment depending on the severity of the colonic atony. Knowledge of Ogilvie's syndrome, or acute colonic pseudoobstruction, is a must for trauma surgeons, since it can occur within a few hours and can lead to dramatic situations.