Introduction.

Splenic injuries are usually accompanied by another concomitant visceral lesion (46 %), with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The evolution of techniques for approaching these injuries includes surgical, interventional and expectant management procedures.

Methods.

Retrospective, observational single cohort study. Patients older than 13 years of age with splenic trauma who were treated between January 2010 and December 2017 were included. The characteristics related to the care process were described.

Results.

116 patients with splenic trauma were identified, 85,2 % were men and the average age was 26 years. Concomitant lesions were identified in 75,9% of patients, the most common were diaphragm (31 %), liver (17,2 %), and kidney (11,2 %). The most common mechanisms of injury were stab wounds (29,3 %), gunshot wounds (22,4 %), and motor vehicle collisions (22,4 %). Severity was classified as grade V in 24,1 % of patients and grade I in 23,3 %. Total splenectomy was performed in 39,7 % of patients and 15,2 % was conservatively managed. Mortality was 4,3 %, three cases in the immediate postoperative period (within 24 hours) and two in the first week postoperative week.

Discussion.

Conservative management of low-grade splenic injuries is a safe and effective strategy, with a failure rate of less than 5 %. Surgical approach is reserved for injuries with greater severity and their relationship with other injured organs, with greater morbidity and mortality (63 %).

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