[Expert assessment following total and partial loss of the spleen]

Post-splenectomy sepsis is a possible consequence, following traumatic loss of the spleen. An incidence of 1.05 per cent and mortality of 0.5 per cent may be assumed. The risk of infection for patients with traumatic loss of the spleen was found to be 60 times higher than that facing the general population. Spleen-preserving operations were found to ensure immune competence only in patients with not less than 30 per cent of intact spleen substance and under conditions of unimpaired blood supply. Occupational disablement usually occurs to 30 per cent of post-splenectomy patients during the first year from operation. Ten per cent were disabled for good, provided absence of complications.