ABSTRACT
Devascularisation injuries secondary to avulsion of supporting mesenteric blood supply are common, usually due to motor vehicle collisions with associated deceleration injury. Other causes of colon trauma include injuries due to colonoscopy and concomitant biopsies, polypectomies, excessive use of electrocautery or barotrauma due to over-insufflation. In neurologically intact patients, obtaining a personal history and the understanding the mechanism of injury may assist in diagnosis and management of injuries to the colon and rectum. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma exams is a quick, non-invasive bedside technique using portable ultrasound to evaluate the presence of free intra-abdominal and pelvic fluid. Free intra-abdominal air, extravasation of oral contrast, free intra-abdominal fluid or thickening of the colonic wall with mesenteric stranding are all indication for operative exploration. Multiple classifications of colon trauma exist including the Abbreviated Injury Score, the Abdominal Trauma Index, the Flint Scale and the Colon Organ Injury Scale.
