How can a spleen be injured

Often, an athlete returning to contact sports following infectious mononucleosis are at potential risk of splenic rupture secondary to abdominal trauma.

A splenic rupture typically results in severe pain and internal bleeding. However, some cases have exhibited only mild symptoms and symptoms may appear delayed as opposed to immediate presentation. Normal physical exams following abdominal trauma does not rule out a splenic rupture. The condition is usually caused by a sudden and direct blow to the abdomen, but spontaneous rupture is also possible if the spleen is enlarged or has been enlarged in the past, due to mononucleosis, infection, or chronic excessive consumption of alcohol.

It is important that individuals who have been recently diagnosed with IM meet with their doctor for clearance to return to sports. If you notice your child having nightmares, flashbacks, nervousness, irritability or any other concerning emotional symptoms please speak with the trauma surgery health care provider. Short term therapy can be provided to help children heal and recover emotionally after a trauma.

All children with liver injuries will be seen in the trauma clinic one or two weeks after discharge. An appointment will be made for you before you leave the hospital or you will be given a number to call to make an appointment.

The trauma clinic number is Usually, no follow-up testing is needed. Once it is okay for you child to return to normal activity, no further follow-up will be needed. It is very important to teach your child about all types of safety. Make sure your child is secured in an age-appropriate restraint every time they ride in a vehicle.

Children under 13 are safer in a backseat in the correct restraint. Make sure your child wears the correct helmet when riding a bike, using other wheeled toys, or takes part in other active sports. All rights reserved. Health Library. Spleen Injuries The spleen is located in the upper left area of your belly and sits behind and below the stomach. Most spleen injuries are cause by blunt trauma from a car crash, fall, bike wreck, or any other activity that causes a hard blow to the abdomen.

A penetrating spleen injury may also result from a gunshot wound or sharp object which tears and cuts the spleen. Function of the Spleen The spleen is an important organ in the body, but you can live without it. The spleen filters and removes old blood cells and bacteria. Others can be treated with several days of hospital care. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency.

Seek emergency care after an injury if your signs and symptoms indicate that you may have a ruptured spleen. If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid activities for several weeks that could cause it to rupture.

These might include contact sports, heavy lifting and other activities that increase the risk of abdominal trauma. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Ruptured spleen Open pop-up dialog box Close. Those in a stable condition may also undergo a procedure called splenic embolization. The procedure aims to stop any bleeding from the spleen. This procedure usually needs to be performed quickly and can help avoid the need to remove the spleen.

Splenic embolization requires specialized facilities and staff, including a vascular surgeon or interventional radiologist. They need to be experienced in carrying out a certain type of artery catheterization and in performing embolization techniques. This is known as a splenectomy. It is normally performed during an emergency laparotomy on a person in an unstable condition. In some cases of less severe spleen damage, the organ may be salvaged during surgery.

Instead of being completely removed, it may be repaired with partial removal, patches, repairs, or staples. There are, however, very limited opportunities for these options. It is important for a person to rest and allow the body time to heal, and only to resume normal activity after receiving the go-ahead from their treating doctor. People who play sports are advised that they can resume mild physical exertion for three months before resuming their usual training or exercise regimen.

This means that all individuals who have undergone a splenectomy should get vaccinated against Pneumococcus. High-risk patients should be vaccinated against Meningococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type B.

These vaccinations are typically given 14 days before an elective splenectomy or 14 days after surgery in emergency cases. Children who have undergone a splenectomy may need to take antibiotics daily to help prevent infection. This can also be important for people who also have autoimmune conditions, such as HIV , and for the 2 years following removal of the spleen. Even after recovery, it is important to inform medical professionals that you no longer have a spleen as this can affect future treatments.

The main complication of a ruptured spleen is bleeding and the problems that can come from it, such as cysts and blood clots.

Delayed bleeding and spleen death may also result from a ruptured spleen. It is often these serious complications that result in surgery. The decrease in immune activity following a splenectomy can lead to an increased risk of infection, so extra precautions should be taken to prevent infections.

The most common cause of a ruptured spleen is blunt trauma to the abdomen, usually as the result of a road traffic collision. However, splenic rupture can occur due to sports injuries and physical assault. The spleen is the abdominal organ to which it is most likely an injury will occur during physical trauma. In addition to blunt trauma, rupture can result from impalement, such as from a knife wound.