Adrenal trauma: medical and surgical emergency

A 35-year-old man was admitted to hospital in a state of haemorrhagic shock after a road traffic accident. A right adrenal gland injury associated with a retroperitoneal haematoma was diagnosed by CT scan. Haemostatic surgery (without adrenal gland resection) was performed instead of angioembolisation because of an associated abdominal compartment syndrome. The outcome was favourable. The objective of this case report is to illustrate the importance of the early diagnosis of adrenal gland injuries after trauma which, though uncommon and frequently overlooked or discovered fortuitously by CT scan, can be life-threatening. Angioembolisation or surgery may be necessary in cases of uncontrolled bleeding or the development of abdominal compartmental syndrome.