[Torsion of the spleen]

The authors describe, a case of torsion of the splenic hilum complicated with a Salmonella typhimurium infection in a child aged 14 months. The existence of a defect of the spleen fixation to the parietal peritoneum, the wandering spleen, that occurs during foetal life is responsible for this situation. The etiology of this entity as well as its clinical presentation and differential diagnosis are analysed. the therapeutic indications os splenectomy and splenopexy are discussed.