A 12-year retrospective analysis of non-operative management for paediatric duodenal hematomas caused by trauma at a single center.

Background: Paediatric traumatic duodenal hematoma is a rare type of blunt abdominal injury for which treatment strategies are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the application value of nonoperative management of paediatric duodenal hematoma caused by trauma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with duodenal hematoma with a confirmed history of abdominal trauma admitted to our hospital between January 2010 and December 2022. General patient information, including age, sex, cause of injury, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes, was recorded.

Results: A total of 11 cases were included in this study, with 6 males and 5 females. School-age children (≥6 years) accounted for 72.7% (8/11) of the cases. Bicycle handlebar injuries accounted for 63.6% (7/11) of cases. Among these cases, 5 (45.5%) were classified as American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade I, while the remaining were classified as grade II. The median history time was 1 day (range: 2 h-12 days). All patients were successfully treated using non-operative methods. The median time to oral feeding after injury was 17 days (range: 9-32 days). Oral feeding was initiated within 2 weeks in 2 patients (18.2%), within 3 weeks in 6 patients (54.5%), and within 4 weeks in 10 patients (90.9%).

Conclusion: Paediatric traumatic duodenal hematoma is more common in school-aged children, mainly due to bicycle handlebar injuries. Nonoperative treatment is proven to be safe and effective, with duodenal obstruction symptoms typically resolving within 4 weeks.