Management and outcomes of penetrating duodenal injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma…

Cohort studySouth African journal of surgery. Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir chirurgie· Mar 2026

Management and outcomes of penetrating duodenal injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma centre.

R Zoubi, S Edu, A Nicol, P Navsaria

Read paper

Trauma & Acute Care SurgeryCohort studyTreatmentQ3IF 0.3

16.67% of penetrating duodenal injury patients developed a duodenal leak

Management and outcomes of penetrating duodenal injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma centre.

R Zoubi … P Navsaria

South African journal of surgery · Mar 2026 · Q3 in Surgery

Background

Duodenal injuries are infrequent occurrences in traumatic abdomen.

Methods

A retrospective chart review with a descriptive-analytical design analysed medical records of 36 patients meeting inclusion criteria from a 966-patient database with penetrating abdominal trauma, admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital trauma centre, Cape Town, South Africa, over 72 months (2014-2019).

n = 966 patients

16.67%

Results

16.67%

about 1 in 6 developed a duodenal leak after repair

n = 966 patients

More results

Out of 966 patients admitted during the study period with penetrating abdominal trauma, 36 (3.73%) had penetrating duodenal injuries.

All 36 patients were male, with a mean age of 27.17 (SD 8.28) years.

Thirty-three (91.67%) patients sustained gunshot wounds, and the remaining three (8.33%) had stab wounds.

More results

Fifteen (41.67%) patients underwent damage control surgery (damage control surgery).

“

Conclusion

Simple duodenal repair appears to be the best management option for penetrating duodenal injuries, except for severe injuries graded AAST IV-V where adjunct surgical techniques may be necessary.

Management and outcomes of penetrating duodenal injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma centre.

Management and outcomes of penetrating duodenal injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a level I trauma centre.

Related papers