Introduction

Traumatic duodenal injuries in children are rare but clinically significant, accounting for 2–10% of all blunt abdominal trauma [1][2]. These injuries pose a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to the duodenum’s retroperitoneal location, its intimate relationship with the pancreas and major vascular structures, and the often nonspecific clinical presentation [1][3]. Delayed diagnosis beyond 24 hours is consistently associated with increased postoperative complications and mortality [1][4]. The overall mortality rate for duodenal trauma is reported at approximately 17%, though pediatric series generally report lower mortality than adult series [1][4]. Management of pediatric duodenal-pancreatic trauma requires specialized skills, and the WSES-AAST [World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST)] guidelines recommend that only designated trauma centers care for this cohort [5].

see also Gastrointestinal Trauma and Duodenal Repair for Trauma