Colorectal trauma

Abstract

The management of traumatic injuries to the colon and rectum has undergone a significant change since World War II. Penetrating injuries are the most common cause of trauma to the colon and rectum. Colon and rectal perforation after blunt trauma are uncommon but not rare. For years, colostomy formation was considered the only acceptable form of treatment for injuries penetrating the colonic mucosa. With the realization that dictums governing colonic injuries during military conflicts were, for the most part, not applicable to civilian injuries, the pendulum has swung from mandatory colostomy to immediate repair in the management of uncomplicated cases. Accompanying these changes in management together with improvement in perioperative care, trauma service and the use of more powerful antibiotics, a significant reduction of mortality rates to less than 5% has been seen in many centres. In the presence of other risk factors, for example multiple associated injuries, severe shock, Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index (PATI) of more than 25, colostomy is still an option to be considered.