Capsular tears were the cause of splenic injury in 55 (95%) patients. The location of 24 (34%) injuries was not described. Three (4%) patients suffered from splenic rupture. The distribution of injury location on the spleen was 24 (34%) inferior, 14 (20%) hilar, 3 (4%) posterior, 2 (3%) lateral, and 1 (1%) superior. Splenic flexure colonic mobilization occurred in 53 (91%) of these patients. Of 13,897 colectomies, 71 splenic injuries among 58 patients were identified. Results are reported as a proportion or median, with range reported in brackets. The operative and pathologic reports were reviewed, and anatomic details of the injuries were collected. All adult surgical patients who sustained a splenic injury during colectomy at our institution from 1992 to 2007 were retrospectively identified. We aimed to describe the anatomic mechanisms of iatrogenic injury to the spleen during colonic surgery. Techniques to lessen these forces may decrease the number of injuries and subsequent splenectomy.Ībstract = "Intraoperative iatrogenic splenic injury during colorectal surgery is rare but may cause significant morbidity. The primary mechanism of intraoperative splenic injury during colectomy is capsular tears and lacerations secondary to misplaced traction and tension on the spleen during colonic mobilization. Splenic injury was a delayed finding requiring reoperation in 4 (7%) patients. Intraoperative splenic injury ultimately resulted in splenectomy in 44 (76%) patients.
![mobilization of splenic flexture mobilization of splenic flexture](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h46oKE2MMZw/maxresdefault.jpg)
![mobilization of splenic flexture mobilization of splenic flexture](https://abdominalkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/image00758.jpeg)
Intraoperative iatrogenic splenic injury during colorectal surgery is rare but may cause significant morbidity.