Imaging of Blunt Traumatic Bowel and Mesenteric Injuries

Traumatic injury is one of the leading causes of emergent hospital evaluations. Specifically, blunt bowel and mesenteric injury (BBMI) account for 1% to 5% of abdominal traumas with a high morbidity and mortality, as clinical signs and nonspecific imaging findings make the initial diagnosis challenging. Understanding key imaging findings and the clinical symptoms can increase the radiologist's suspicion for BBMI and ultimately improve patient outcomes.