Trends in Duodenal Injury Severity, Repair, and Mortality Over Time

Outcomes for patients with traumatic duodenal injury are determined by the location of the injury, injury severity, and associated injuries. We hypothesized that there is an association among the increased frequency of firearm injuries, the severity of duodenal injuries, trends in repair techniques, and mortality.

Duodenal injuries managed at an adult level 1 hospital from 2000 to 2022 were identified. Demographics, injury type, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade, type of surgical repair, and mortality data were obtained and aggregated into two periods (2000 to June 2011 and July 2011 to 2022) to evaluate trends over time. P values < 0.05 were considered significant.

One hundred eighty eight cases were identified. Duodenal injuries due to firearms increased over time (30% versus 55%, P < 0.001). The distribution of AAST injury grade shifted over time with fewer grade 1 and more grade 2 to 4 injuries in the later period (P = 0.002). AAST grade 2 injuries or higher were more likely due to firearms (P < 0.001). Despite more high-grade injuries, there was no change in the use of primary repair with or without tube drainage (61% versus 70%, P = 0.35) and there was no change in mortality (15% versus 17%, P value 0.62) between the time periods.

There was a proportional increase in the number of duodenal injuries caused by firearms. Higher grade duodenal injuries were more common with firearm injuries and were predominately repaired with simple techniques with no increase in mortality.