Details of a young logger who sustained a clean prevertebral transection of the pancreas to the left of the superior mesenteric vessels and a crush injury in segments 2 and 3 of the liver are presented. CT scan was not done but ultrasound scan revealed free intraperitoneal fluid and no comment was made about the pancreas. The pancreatic injury was discovered at laparotomy carried out 24 hours after admission and treated by resection.
Blunt trauma to the pancreas is not common. The pancreatic injury can range from simple bruising to complete transection often associated with other visceral injuries. Pseudocyst of the pancreas is a late complication presenting usually within six weeks of the injury. The treatment of choice is distal pancreatectomy.