A Case of Delayed Sigmoid Colon Perforation due to Blunt Trauma

Abstract

A 67-years-old man was struck on the lower left abdomen with the handlebar of his motorcycle and consulted our hospital three days later. Blood chemistry showed a slight inflammatory reaction. We recognized free air under the right diaphragm on X-ray imaging. Abdominal enhanced CT revealed free air in the mesentery of the sigmoid colon. Thus, we diagnosed sigmoid colon perforation. During the operation we discovered the perforation of the mesentery which communicated with the sigmoid colon. We therefore performed partial resection of the sigmoid colon. Delayed perforation after blunt trauma rarely occurs. We discuss the case with a review of the literature.