Penetrating abdominal trauma. A comparison of the development during 30 years between a rural and an urban area.

The development of penetrating abdominal injuries during 30 years has been compared between a rural and an urban area. There was an increase in number of injured patients but the causes of injury did not change. In the urban area stab wounds, assaults, and injury combined with alcohol intoxication were significantly more frequent than in the rural, where gunshot wounds dominated. Indications for laparotomy and therapeutic management did not differ. There were minor but statistically insignificant differences in complications and mortality. Although the material is small exteriorization must be recommended as the method of choice in penetrating civilian colon injuries as it is in war injuries.