Medicine

T. Hosokawa, Yutaka Tanami, Y. Sanmoto, T. Ishimaru, Hiroshi Kawashima

2026.5.2Fukushima Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI: 10.5387/fms.26-00006

Abstract

Abdominal organ injuries in children are usually caused by traffic accidents, which are typically defined as high-energy injuries. We report abdominal organ injury cases not attributed to high-energy blunt trauma but seemingly minor blunt trauma with focal impact.Case 1:A 6-year-old patient was running in a park and slipped one day before. The FAST examination was positive, revealing hepatic injury. Computed tomography demonstrated a massive subcapsular hemorrhage of the liver.Case 2:A 6-year-old patient fell in a room the day before. She experienced trauma to the epigastrium after hitting a water bottle during the fall. The FAST examination was positive, revealing pancreatic injury. Computed tomography was performed and showed a hematoma anterior to the pancreas.Case 3:A 7-year-old girl was practicing bar pullovers one day before. FAST examination was negative;however, targeted ultrasonography revealed a hyperechoic lesion, and computed tomography revealed a hematoma in the duodenal wall.These cases had abdominal organ injury caused by seemingly minor blunt trauma with focal impact. Physical examination and abdominal ultrasound examination, including FAST and targeted ultrasonography, are essential for the early identification of pediatric patients requiring computed tomography.

Citation format

HOSOKAWA, T., et al. Abdominal organ injury caused by seemingly minor blunt trauma with focal impact in children. Fukushima Journal of Medical Sciences, 2026.