A Postmortem Medico-Legal Study of Liver and Spleen Injuries Associated with Ribs' Fractures
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Ribs' fractures often associated with intra-abdominal organ injuries,
commonly liver and spleen.
Objectives: The study was conducted with an objective to determine the association
between ribs' fractures with both liver and spleen injuries.
Methods: The study was conducted on a total of 68 cases within a six-month period from
1st of January 2015 to 30th of June 2015, at the mortuary of the Medico-Legal Directorate
in Baghdad involving fatalities with blunt abdominal trauma.
Results: Among a total of 68 cases studied, male: female ratio was 3.53:1 and the mean
age was 30.76 ± 5.14 years. The presence of liver injuries was significantly increased in
all ribs' fractures (P value 0.378, OR 1.552) and significantly associated with right-sided
only or bilateral ribs' fractures (P value <0.05, OR 0.33) while spleen injuries are
significantly associated with left-sided only or bilateral ribs' fractures (P value <0.05. OR
3.02).
Conclusions: A significant difference exists between organ injuries with associated ribs'
fractures compared to those without fracture, implying that the presence of rib fracture is a
good indicator of organ injury.
Keywords: Autopsy, Liver injury, Ribs' fractures, Mortuary, Spleen injury.
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