Splenic injuries in children: The challenges of non operative management in a developing country

Aim: This is to report the challenges and experience gained with non operative management of splenic injuries in a developing country where sophisticated imaging facilities are either not available or exorbitantly expensive.
Materials and Methods: All patients who presented with splenic injury at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between January, 2000 and December, 2006 were assessed and those who met the criteria were recruited for non operative management. Diagnosis of splenic injury was made by combining clinical assessment and ultrasound findings.
Results: A total of 24 children with a mean age 12 ± 0.04 years and male/female ratio 1.7:1 were treated during the period. Road traffic accident, accounting for 50% of the cases was the major cause of trauma followed by falls from heights. Delay in presentation was a major concern as 62.5% of them were not referred until shock supervened. None of the patients could afford CT scan but ultrasound scan was able to confirm diagnosis in all. Basing decision on clinical parameters, non operative management was successfully done in 75% while 25% were operated as they could not meet the criteria. No mortality was recorded in the non operated group while one was recorded in those operated. The average length of hospitalization was two weeks.
Conclusion: Non operative management of splenic injuries can be successfully done in a developing country using clinical parameters as a guide. The 75% of patients with splenic injury treated can be improved upon by health awareness campaign/improvement in government policy that will result in early presentation.