Acute appendicitis after closed abdominal trauma: A case report.
Karen Juliana Salinas-Castro1, Valentina Mejía-Quiñones1,2, Natalia Yeritza Zúñiga-Londoño3
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia.
Radiology Case Reports
|December 6, 2022
Summary
A rare case of acute post-traumatic appendicitis occurred in a 14-year-old female after abdominal impact from a soccer ball. Prompt diagnosis relies on high suspicion, thorough examination, and imaging when clinical findings are unclear.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
Background:
- Acute appendicitis is a common cause of acute abdomen.
- Traumatic mechanisms are a described, though rare, etiology of appendicitis.
- Post-traumatic appendicitis requires a high index of suspicion for timely diagnosis.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old female experienced acute post-traumatic appendicitis following abdominal and pelvic impact from a soccer ball.
- The patient had no prior clinical history.
- Diagnosis was challenging due to the unusual etiology.
Findings:
- Imaging, including ultrasound or computed tomography, is crucial when clinical presentation and physical examination are discordant.
- Early recognition of traumatic appendicitis is essential for appropriate management.
- This case highlights a rare presentation of a common condition.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider traumatic appendicitis in pediatric patients presenting with acute abdomen after abdominal trauma.
- Diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role in confirming appendicitis when clinical suspicion is high but findings are equivocal.
- Increased awareness of this rare etiology can improve patient outcomes.
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