Pattern of Abdominal Organ Injury in Blunt Abdominal Trauma Associated with Rib Fractures with Their Outcome

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is often associated with rib fractures, which may indicate underlying intra-abdominal injury. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess abdominal organ injury patterns in BAT and their correlation with rib fracture characteristics. Materials and Methods: This observational study included 75 patients with BAT and rib/skeletal fractures. Data on demographics, injury mechanism, rib fracture characteristics, abdominal injuries, and outcomes were analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, t -test, and Pearson correlation were applied. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 36.9 ± 8.7 years, with male predominance (78.7%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 64% of cases. Abdominal organ injury was present in 70.7%, most commonly involving the liver (35.8%) and spleen (30.2%). Lower rib fractures showed a significant association with abdominal injury ( P = 0.008). The number of rib fractures correlated positively with organ injury ( r = 0.46, P < 0.001), with ≥3 fractures significantly increasing risk ( P < 0.001). Most of the patients were managed conservatively (65.3%); mortality was 9.3%. Lower rib fractures (odds ratio [OR]: 4.21; P = 0.011) and ≥3 fractures (OR: 5.76; P = 0.001) were independent predictors. Conclusion: Lower rib fractures and higher fracture burden predict intra-abdominal injury in BAT, emphasizing the need for early imaging and targeted management.