Closing the loop: Understanding ostomy reversal rates and risks in trauma patients
Kevin J Lang1, Devanshi D Patel, Meredith R Perkins
1Department of Surgery (KJ.L., D.D.P., M.R.P., A.M.F., C.E.J.-S., S.E.B., D.M.F., A.J.K., C.R.E.), Division of Trauma/Surgical Critical Care, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Surgery (J.P.S.), Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw, Michigan; Department of Preventive Medicine (E.A.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
Background:
Diverting ostomy creation is commonly performed after traumatic colon injuries, yet data on long-term outcomes, reversal predictors, and ostomy complications in trauma patients remain scarce.
Methods:
A 5-year retrospective review at an urban level 1 trauma center identified patients with colon injuries who underwent ostomy creation. Demographics, follow-up duration, reversal rates, and complications were analyzed. Factors linked to successful reversal were compared.
Results:
Among 559 patients who underwent operative colon injury management, 94 received an ostomy. Most were male (84%) with penetrating injuries (76%). Early stoma complications included ischemia in three (3%) and retraction in two (2%) patients. Late complications included parastomal hernia in two (2%), prolapse in one (1%), and retraction in one (1%) patient. Eleven patients died before discharge, leaving 83 with a median follow-up of 269 days (IQR, 178-448). Stoma-related readmissions occurred in 12 of 83 patients (15%), with 11 of 12 (92%) for dehydration. At 6, 12, 24, and 60 months, 22%, 48%, 60%, and 64% of patients completed ostomy reversal, respectively. Twenty-seven patients had a concomitant ventral hernia (VH), of whom 11 of 27 (40.7%) completed hernia repair with reversal. VH correlated with lower reversal likelihood (p=0.011). Multivariable logistic regression showed increasing age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.949; p=0.012] and concomitant VH (AOR, 0.330; p=0.042) as predicting decreased likelihood of reversal, with loop-type ostomy (AOR, 2.98; P=0.052) increasing reversal likelihood. Of the 53 patients who underwent reversal, 9 (17%) experienced complications, including one reversal-related death.
Conclusions:
Patients with ostomies for traumatic colon injuries have favorable reversal rates. VH repair concomitant with ostomy reversal is feasible but associated with lower reversal rates. Given overall complication rates, surgeons should carefully weigh the use of a diverting ostomy for colon injuries. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2026;00:000-000 Copyright © 2026 Wolters Kluwer Health, LLC. All rights reserved.).
Level Of Evidence:
Prognostic/Epidemiologic; Level III.
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