Safety of early ambulation following blunt abdominal solid organ injury: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: There is continued debate regarding the optimal period of bed-rest and in-hospital monitoring for non-operative management of solid organ injury following blunt trauma.

METHODS: Single center, prospective, observational study of blunt solid organ injuries from 07/2014-02/2016, managed initially without surgical or angiographic intervention. Early ambulation was defined as ≤24 h.

RESULTS: 79 patients met inclusion criteria, with 36 (45.6%) in the early ambulation group and 43 (54.4%) in the late ambulation group. There were zero complications in the early ambulation group, and three complications in the late ambulation group (complications, p = 0.246; further interventions, p = 0.498). Median ICU LOS was zero days and three days for early vs. late ambulation, p = 0.001. Median total LOS was two days and five days for early vs. late ambulation, p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION: Early ambulation is safe in patients undergoing non-operative management of their solid organ injury, and may result in a reduced length of stay.