Osmosis video - Abdominal trauma: Clinical

Abdominal trauma is a serious injury to the abdomen, which can involve the abdominal wall, internal organs, or the vasculature within the abdominal cavity. Abdominal trauma is usually divided into two categories depending on the mechanism of injury. First, there is blunt abdominal trauma caused by a blunt object such as a blow to the abdomen, a car crash, or a fall on bicycle handlebars. In blunt abdominal trauma, the spleen is the most injured organ. There is also penetrating abdominal trauma, which occurs when a sharp object penetrates and injures various parts of the abdomen. These include abdominal stab injuries and gunshot wounds. Common symptoms of abdominal trauma include pain, swelling, bruising, and symptoms of hemorrhagic shock such as confusion and pallor.