Traumatic injuries of the duodenum: a comparison of 1 degrees closure and the jejunal patch.

Twenty-two traumatic injuries of the duodenum were reviewed. In this series either primary closure, or primary closure plus the jejunal serosal patch prove satisfactory methods of repair. The addition of the jejunal serosal patch may be more secure but its superiority could not be documented in this small series. The mortality was related to the associated organ injuries. When blunt or penetrating injuries to the duodenum alone occur, there should be minimal mortality.