Blunt trauma to the pancreas in children.

: Sixteen children below the age of 12 were operated on for blunt injury to the pancreas during a ten-year period. Unless there was an associated injury, signs and symptoms did not immediately develop. Common to the delayed manifestation of an injury to the pancreas was history of an impaling force to the upper abdomen, abdominal tenderness, and an elevated serum amylase level. The postoperative morbidity for contusion of the pancreas was unpredictable, and a prolonged period without oral alimentation should be anticipated.