Pancreatic injuries in under-age Australian rules footballers

Blunt injury to the pancreas is rare in children. It has significant physiological effects and can result in death. The most common injury mechanism is a high-velocity motor vehicle accident. Bicycle accidents, non-accidental injuries and falls can also cause pancreatic injury.(1) Given the protected retroperitoneal location of the pancreas, it is not surprising that low-velocity injuries are an uncommon cause of pancreatic injury. Over a 12-month period we have observed three cases of blunt pancreatic injury, occurring during under-age Australian rules football (AFL) matches. These represented a spectrum of injuries from 'traumatic pancreatitis' to a devascularized distal pancreas requiring initial percutaneous drainage complicated by pseudocyst development requiring cyst gastrostomy. AFL is a free flowing game that combines certain attributes of soccer and rugby. There is an emphasis on physical contact and high-velocity interpersonal collisions are frequent.