The pre-operative study of the colon before loop colostomy closure in trauma patients has been loosing its importance since last few years. The need of evaluating the pos-traumatic anatomic alterations of the colon goes against the costs and morbidity of the examinations. OBJECTIVE: to analyze the real necessity of the colon study before colostomy closure in trauma patients. METHODS: a retrospective study of 98 patients submitted to colostomy closure after trauma, from January of 2004 to January of 2006 was carried out. They were divided in two groups: group A, composed of 32 patients with previews colon study and group B, composed of 66 patients without it. RESULTS: 94.9% of all patients were male and the average age was 27 years old. The time interval between colostomy and its closure was in average 32.8 months. The left side location was the most common sight. Overall morbidity was 7.1%, being 3.1 % in group A and 9.1% in group B (p=0,16). The operative mortality was zero in both groups. The most common complication was wound haemathomas (5,1%) and only one case of wound infection. Anastomosis dehiscence occurred also in only one case, from group B. CONCLUSION: the pre-operative study of the colon for loop colostomy closure in trauma patients is not necessary.
Colostomy closure; loop colostomy; barium enema; colonoscopy
