Traumatic colonic perforation. Review of 16 years' experience

The surgical management of colon injuries in civilian practice requires individualization. Primary repair, either by debridement and suture or resection and anastomosis, is a safe method of management in selected cases and results in a shorter hospital stay, less morbidity and a complication rate that is no higher. In this series, over half of the colon injuries were managed in this way. Exteriorization and proximal colostomy are accepted methods of management, but possibly should be reserved for the more severely injured patient. The criteria for individualization are briefly summarized.