Solid organ laceration in an adolescent soccer player: A case report

Pediatric solid organ lacerations are a relatively uncommon but potentially dangerous injury that must be addressed urgently once recognized. Seen most often during recreational or team sports, they usually occur after a blunt deceleration mechanism to the abdomen or flank. Depending on the severity of injury, solid organ laceration may not be immediately apparent clinically. This emphasizes the importance of sideline witnessing and evaluation, acting quickly once symptoms develop, and placing importance on safe sporting technique. Additionally, management has changed over time to favor medical management for minor injuries, with laparotomy reserved for high-grade or hemodynamically unstable lacerations. Awareness of solid organ laceration in pediatric populations is more important than ever as they are beginning to appear in younger adolescents. Here we present a case of a 14-year-old girl sustaining a grade IV liver laceration while playing contact team sports.