Radiologic findings of small bowel rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma

Bowel rupture due to blunt abdomianl trauma is no longer rare, and is among the most challenging problems thatconfront the physicians and radiologist. it is frequently difficult to diagnose because the symptoms may betrivial during the early stage and masked by more obvious, but less lethal injuries. It is well known that theroentgen examination of the abdomen is also of little value to exclude bowel rupture because of infrequency ofpositive findings and free gas. The plain films of 23 cases of jejunal rupture and 8 cases of ileal rupture wereevaluated to sort and diagnostic features of small bowel rupture(26%) and 1 case of ileal rupture (13%), anddefinite radiological evidence of free intraperitoneal fluid was present in 16 cases of patients(52%). 2. Thecontour change of bowel loops such as tapering or indentation were seen in 11 cases of patients(36%), and localopacity along the mesenteric root axis was demonstrated in 19 cases of patients(61%). 3. Paralytic ileus waslocalized to LUQ in jejunal rupture and to mid-abdomen in ileal rupture, and gastric and transverse-colondistension with gas was noticeable especially in jejunal rupture.