[Injuries of the pancreas]

During the period 1968-1982, thirteen patients were treated surgically for a posttraumatic lesion of the pancreas. Eleven of them had a blunt abdominal trauma. These series of 13 patients show the diagnostic difficulties of the pancreatic lesion, often minimised or even missed. An open abdominal trauma needs an immediate exploration; surgery in blunt abdominal trauma is guided by biology, ultrasonography and scanning. ERCP may be very useful in these difficult cases. All different types of pancreatic lesions, divided into immediate and late sequelae are illustrated. Their appropriate treatment will be discussed. Good results can only be achieved if primary treatment of the pancreatic trauma is adequate and radical.