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Published on: March 27, 2026
Low morbidity profile of spleen mesh wrapping in children
Z Steiner1, M Iuchtman, M Litmanovitch
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel. steiner@hy.health.gov.il
Insights
Spleen mesh wrapping is a safe and effective treatment for severe spleen injuries in children, preserving the spleen and avoiding splenectomy. Most complications are minor and resolve on their own.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Trauma Management
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Severe spleen trauma in children often necessitates splenectomy.
- Spleen mesh wrapping offers a potential alternative to splenectomy for managing spleen injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the morbidity associated with spleen mesh wrapping in pediatric patients.
- To describe the management and outcomes of spleen mesh wrapping in children with severe spleen trauma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of children treated for blunt spleen trauma at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.
- Analysis of cases involving absorbable mesh wrapping for grade III/IV spleen lesions in children aged 1-15 years.
Main Results:
- Hemostasis was achieved in all 20 children treated with mesh wrapping.
- All children survived with intact spleens, with no long-term infectious complications.
- Minor complications like prolonged fever and perisplenic fluid occurred in 12 cases, resolving spontaneously. One splenic abscess was successfully managed non-surgically.
Conclusions:
- Absorbable mesh wrapping is a safe and effective method for treating grade III/IV spleen ruptures in children.
- The procedure leads to spleen preservation with a low rate of minor complications.
- Major complications are rare and manageable, supporting mesh wrapping as a viable spleen-sparing option.
Purpose:
Spleen mesh wrapping is a valuable and efficacious technique for treating severely traumatized spleens. We report the morbidity of the procedure and describe its management in children.
Methods:
A retrospective survey of children admitted to the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center with a traumatized spleen was carried out.
Results:
Between 1985 and 2000, we treated 168 children for blunt spleen trauma. The spleen was the only intra-abdominal organ injured in 102 of them. Absorbable mesh wrapping was chosen for 20 children (age range 1 - 15 years), with grade III/IV lesions that would otherwise probably have required splenectomy. Hemostasis was achieved in all 20 children. All children survived with intact spleens as suggested by the absence of long-term infectious complications and by normal hematological, US and scintigraphy studies. Anti-pneumococcal vaccination was not required. Complications were diagnosed in 12 cases, the most common being prolonged fever. Perisplenic fluid, oozing, and left pleural effusion were also present. Only one intrasplenic pseudoaneurysm occurred and this resolved spontaneously. There was one splenic abscess which was successfully treated by transmesh transcutaneous computerized tomography-guided drainage. No complications were detected at the 1 year follow-up.
Conclusions:
Absorbable mesh wrapping is safe and effective for treating grade III/IV spleen ruptures in children. Complications are mostly minor, and resolve spontaneously. Major complications are rare and can usually be managed nonsurgically.
