A cross-sectional study of the spectrum of intraoperative findings in patients presenting with penetrating abdominal trauma at the Katutura and Windhoek Central State Hospitals, Windhoek, Namibia.

Penetrating abdominal trauma is associated with intraoperative findings. There is limited data describing patterns in the Namibian setting. This study aimed to describe the spectrum and frequency of intraoperative findings in patients undergoing operative management for penetrating abdominal trauma at Katutura and Windhoek Central State Hospitals in Windhoek, Namibia. A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted among patients presenting with penetrating abdominal trauma who underwent operative management between April 2023 and February 2024. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, mechanism and anatomical distribution of injury, preoperative investigations, intraoperative findings, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index (PATI), operative procedures, and short-term clinical outcomes. Thirty (30) patients were included, comprising 25 males (83.3%) and five females (16.7%), with a mean age of 31.6 years. Stab wounds accounted for 80% of injuries, followed by gunshot wounds (16.7%) and a fall from height (3.3%). Most patients sustained a single penetrating wound, with the epigastric region being the most frequently affected site (20%). The mean ISS was 10.6, and the mean PATI was 10.8. All patients underwent open laparotomy. The small bowel was the most commonly injured organ (36.67%). Four patients (13.3%) required intensive care unit admission, three required relaparotomy, and one in-hospital death occurred. The mean hospital length of stay was 10.63 days. In this cohort, penetrating abdominal trauma predominantly affected young males and was most commonly caused by stab wounds. The small bowel was the most frequently injured organ, and operative management was associated with low short-term mortality despite limited use of preoperative imaging.