Résumé
There has been a change in perspective in the treatment of penetrating injuries of the colon. The aim of the study is to compare between colostomy and primary repair and in particular to determine whether the latter is safe when there is operative delay, in the presence of intra-abdominal contamination, associated injuries and/or shock. Forty-eight patients with penetrating colonic injuries were randomly treated by primary closure or colostomy. There were significant differences between the two treatment groups as regards the operating time [primary repair; mean 132.2 mm, range 65-220 and colostomy; mean 148.7 mm, range 71-288] and the time of hospital stay [primary repair; mean 10 days, range 7-52 and colostomy; mean 29 days, range 21-63]. There were no significant difference between the two treatment groups as regards the operative delay and the postoperative complications. It is concluded that primary repair is a safe procedure in managing penetrating colonic injuries irrespective of delay, or other adverse circumstances