A rare case of delayed splenic rupture following initial negative CT scan imaging: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Delayed splenic rupture is an often unpredictable event with high mortality. In this report, we discuss the successful management of delayed splenic rupture, presenting days after index injury, with no commonly associated injuries or blunt abdominal trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50 year old male, not on anticoagulants, presented with blunt trauma after driving his motorcycle into a tree. The patient sustained right 3–5 rib fractures, displaced right midclavicular fracture, 25 % right pneumothorax, T5–9 posterior spinous process fractures, left 2nd-5th metatarsal fractures, and scattered abrasions to the left foot, knee and hand. Focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) and admission abdominal multi-detector CT were negative for any intra-abdominal injuries. On hospital day 5, the patient acutely decompensated. FAST was grossly positive and emergent laparotomy revealed a splenic rupture. After a splenectomy, he recovered. DISCUSSION: The spleen is the most commonly injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma. Although acute injury often presents with imaging findings or sequelae of hemorrhagic shock, complications of splenic trauma have the potential to result in delayed catastrophe. Bedside ultrasonography is a useful tool to assess acute decompensation in trauma patients along with CT imaging. Prompt identification and hemorrhage control are crucial to survival after trauma. CONCLUSION: Repeat CT scans are also important for the identification of delayed splenic rupture and timely intervention. Delayed hemorrhage after blunt trauma should never be ruled out regardless of the injury complexity or length of hospital admission.