The Orthobullets Podcast Knee & Sports | Visceral Blunt Trauma
Aug 17, 2025
Explore the risks of visceral blunt trauma in contact sports and how it impacts athletes' abdominal organs. Discover the various injuries, from diaphragmatic spasms to organ damage, and essential evaluation and treatment methods. Delve into the crucial symptoms associated with splenic, liver, and kidney injuries, along with the importance of accurate diagnosis and criteria for returning to play. Uncover how infections like mononucleosis complicate splenic injuries, highlighting the intricate relationship between sports and health.
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Scope And Mechanism Of Visceral Blunt Trauma
- Visceral blunt injuries include abdominal wall, spleen, liver, kidney, and genital injuries from direct blows or deceleration forces.
- Deceleration mechanisms preferentially injure spleen, liver, and kidney and should raise suspicion in athletes after collisions.
Manage Diaphragmatic Spasm Conservatively
- Observe athletes with diaphragmatic spasm (getting the wind knocked out) because it resolves spontaneously.
- Allow continued play if symptoms rapidly improve and no other injury signs appear.
Abdominal Wall Injury Mimics Surgical Abdomen
- Localized acute abdominal wall pain often signals rectus sheath hematoma from epigastric vessel injury.
- Symptoms can mimic a surgical abdomen and CT confirms diagnosis while most cases need only ice and rest.