Blunt abdominal trauma in soccer causing duodenal rupture: case report and review

Abstract

A case of blunt abdominal trauma in soccer is reported A forward player sustained a rupture of the distal duodenum in a collision with the opposing team's goalkeeper. The injured player had abdominal pain radiating to the back and a sustained high pulse but no sign of shock or peritonitis. The x-ray diagnosis was followed by emergency surgery and uneventful recovery. Injuries from blunt abdominal trauma occur rarely in sports. In soccer, the most frequently injury from this type of trauma is abdominal wall contusion, followed by injuries to the kidneys and spleen. However, death has also been reported in soccer. Athletes sustaining blunt trauma to the upper abdomen should be carefully monitored due to the risk of possible severe intra-abdominal injuries.