Isolated Traumatic Gallbladder Rupture

Isolated gallbladder rupture following blunt abdominal trauma

“…[1,2] Isolated damage to the GB is even rarer as it is protected under the rib cage and the liver in which it is embedded. [1][2][3] GB rupture occurs predominantly in males as was the case in our patients; this is in keeping with their propensity for involvement in violent accidents. [2] Children especially are involved because of their increased vulnerability to direct abdominal trauma and also poor anterior abdominal wall muscular developments.…”

“…[1,2] This combined effects causes GB distension which makes it more susceptible to injury, especially since alcohol also relaxes the abdominal wall musculature. [1] The majority of GB injuries occur following motor vehicular incidents from road traffic accidents [2,4] followed by significant falls [1,3,4,6] and direct kicks or blows from sporting activities and fights. [5,7,8] The underlying mechanism is the shearing acceleration -deceleration force with impacts against the steering wheel or seat belts or the direct blows.…”

“…[1,2] Consequently gallbladder rupture following blunt abdominal trauma is rare and is usually associated with other visceral injuries. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Isolated gallbladder rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma is even rarer. [1][2][3]5] Most literature on the subjects are case reports because of the rarity of the disease and contrary to earlier reports, in which falls, kicks or blows were the most common factors causing blunt gallbladder injuries.…”

Isolated gall bladder rupture following blunt trauma

“…Damage to the extrahepatic biliary system and the gallbladder occurs in approximately 2% of cases of blunt abdominal trauma 7,8 . However, this data was obtained at laparotomy prior to the routine use of ultrasound and CT and may be an underestimation of the actual incidence 9 …”

“…7,8 However, this data was obtained at laparotomy prior to the routine use of ultrasound and CT and may be an underestimation of the actual incidence. 9 The diagnosis of isolated gall bladder rupture is difficult to establish. It is generally identified as a delayed diagnosis after the injury, and the patient deteriorates clinically before detection.…”