[Traumatic lesions of the spleen. Analysis of 35 cases]

A retrospective review of all the traumatic splenic ruptures from 1974 to 1988 was performed. Thirty-five patients were treated with splenectomy: 24 were males and 11 women. Teenagers and young adults were the most affected age groups. The mechanisms of injuries were: road accidents (78.8%), falls (12.1%), aggression, autoaggression and iatrogenic mishap (3%). Eighty per cent of the patients had associated injuries. Authors suggest a decisional algorithm to precise preoperative diagnosis and to treat the patients correctly. Mortality was 11.4% and primarily due to associated injuries.