[Insidious duodenal injury in a child].

Duodenal injuries in children are rare. However, we should keep in mind the possibility of duodenal injury in blunt abdominal trauma. Findings on imaging can be normal in spite of duodenal perforation and symptoms may become manifest later after trauma. Duodenal perforation diagnosed within 24 hours can be treated with primary closure and drainage. The safest operative treatment is pyloric exclusion or duodenal diverticularization and gastrojejunostomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy in most serious injuries. Delay in diagnosis is associated with increased complication rate, hospitalization and mortality.