During the three-year period from Jan. 1, 1969, through Dec. 31, 1971, 26 cases of nonpenetrating traumatic spleen ruptures were cared surgically at the Kyungpook University Hospital.
The etiological forces producing the trauma in this series were car accidents, fall from height, the car accident far exceeds the other causes.
Of the 26 cases, 20 were male and the age group beween 10-40 in years occupied about 85% in incidence of the victims.
We encountered 4 cases of delayed ruptures in the post-injury period ranging from 3 to 9 days. Among the associated injuries, the rib fracture was the commonest. As for diagnostic procedure, the paracenthesis including peritoneal irrigation with ample saline proved highly diagnostic in 25 out of 26 cases. The quantity of blood lost in the peritoneal cavity was measured to be 1, 300 cc. in average. There was no serious postoperative complication, but one case of death ensued.
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