Abstract
Traumatic adrenal gland injuries, though uncommon, pose significant clinical challenges due to their association with numerous concomitant injuries and potential complications. This review synthesizes current knowledge on traumatic adrenal injuries, emphasizing their anatomical and epidemiological context, diagnostic modalities, and management strategies. Adrenal gland trauma often co-occurs with injuries to adjacent abdominal organs, typically manifesting with vague symptoms that complicate early detection and diagnosis. Advancements in imaging technologies, particularly computed tomography, have facilitated increased detection rates, highlighting the need for timely and accurate diagnostic approaches. The pathophysiological mechanisms remain partially understood, although three primary theories attempt to elucidate the mechanisms leading to injury. Treatment strategies are primarily conservative, escalating to surgical or interventional measures, such as transcatheter arterial embolization, when hemodynamic instability is evident. Despite the historical association of adrenal trauma with higher injury severity and mortality, recent evidence suggests that adrenal bleeding does not substantially increase mortality rates independently but rather highlights the role of associated injuries. This review underscores the importance of systematic follow-up post-management and calls for further research to establish comprehensive treatment protocols within the evolving landscape of trauma care.
Jin Suk Lee, Younghoon Sul, Seheon Kim, Jin Young Lee, Jin Bong Ye, Junepill Seok, Jonghee Han, Su Young Yoon, Yook Kim
