PURPOSE: To determine if pediatric splenic injury healing observed during ultrasonography (US) is related to the computed tomographic (CT) grade of injury severity, to review any delayed complications, and to formulate a grade-specific timetable for follow-up imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight children and adolescents with CT-documented blunt splenic injury underwent US at approximate 6-week intervals to document injury healing (normal parenchyma or linear echogenic "scar"). Medical records of those not followed up to complete healing were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were followed up to complete injury healing: 14 of injury grade 1 (mean, 7 weeks; range, 4-12 weeks), 24 of injury grade 2 (mean, 9.5 weeks; range, 6-17 weeks), and 10 of injury grade 3 (mean, 16 weeks; range, 6-29 weeks). The difference in mean time to healing among all grades was significant (P < .02). Only two cysts were found; one decreased in size over time. No complications occurred in the 68 study patients. CONCLUSION: The time course to US-documented healing of blunt pediatric splenic injury is related to injury severity. This information can be used to tailor follow-up imaging and provide cost savings.
PURPOSE: To determine if pediatric splenic injury healing observed during ultrasonography (US) is related to the computed tomographic (CT) grade of injury severity, to review any delayed complications, and to formulate a grade-specific timetable for follow-up imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight children and adolescents with CT-documented blunt splenic injury underwent US at approximate 6-week intervals to document injury healing (normal parenchyma or linear echogenic "scar"). Medical records of those not followed up to complete healing were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were followed up to complete injury healing: 14 of injury grade 1 (mean, 7 weeks; range, 4-12 weeks), 24 of injury grade 2 (mean, 9.5 weeks; range, 6-17 weeks), and 10 of injury grade 3 (mean, 16 weeks; range, 6-29 weeks). The difference in mean time to healing among all grades was significant (P < .02). Only two cysts were found; one decreased in size over time. No complications occurred in the 68 study patients. CONCLUSION: The time course to US-documented healing of blunt pediatric splenic injury is related to injury severity. This information can be used to tailor follow-up imaging and provide cost savings.
Authors: Catherine M Dickinson; Roberto J Vidri; Alexis D Smith; Hale E Wills; Francois I Luks Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2018-09-07 Impact factor: 1.827