Liver trauma in a high school football player

Conclusions Team physicians and trainers must be alert to the mechanism of injury and symptoms of abdominal trauma. Although most liver injuries stop bleeding spontaneously and can be managed with observation, some injuries are catastrophic. Without a high index of suspicion, a subtle or unique presentation of hepatic injury may go undetected. Serum transaminases and CT scan are useful for early diagnosis of liver injury in the stable patient. Nonoperative management and early return to noncontact activity is supported by research. Additional research will be useful to establish return-to-play guidelines.