Which type of injury commonly causes referred pain in the abdomen?

Which type of injury commonly causes referred pain in the abdomen?

• A. Superficial laceration.
• B. Hollow organ rupture.
• C. Solid organ injury.
• D. Soft tissue injury.

Answer: (C)

Referred pain in the abdomen is often associated with solid organ injuries due to the unique vascular and nerve supply of these organs. When a solid organ, such as the liver or spleen, is injured, it can lead to irritation of the surrounding structures and visceral nerves. This stimulation can cause pain to be felt in areas that may seem unrelated to the injury, such as the shoulder or back. This phenomenon occurs because the nerve pathways that convey pain sensations from solid organs converge with those from other areas in the spinal cord, leading to the misinterpretation of pain locations by the brain. For example, an injury to the spleen can refer pain to the left shoulder, known as Kehr's sign. In contrast, other types of injuries, such as superficial lacerations, do not typically result in referred pain because they affect only the skin and underlying tissues without involving the visceral nerves. Hollow organ ruptures can lead to peritoneal irritation and localized pain rather than referred pain. Similarly, soft tissue injuries are generally localized and do not trigger the same complex pain pathways as solid organ injuries.

Referred pain in the abdomen is often associated with solid organ injuries due to the unique vascular and nerve supply of these organs. When a solid organ, such as the liver or spleen, is injured, it can lead to irritation of the surrounding structures and visceral nerves. This stimulation can cause pain to be felt in areas that may seem unrelated to the injury, such as the shoulder or back.

This phenomenon occurs because the nerve pathways that convey pain sensations from solid organs converge with those from other areas in the spinal cord, leading to the misinterpretation of pain locations by the brain. For example, an injury to the spleen can refer pain to the left shoulder, known as Kehr's sign.

In contrast, other types of injuries, such as superficial lacerations, do not typically result in referred pain because they affect only the skin and underlying tissues without involving the visceral nerves. Hollow organ ruptures can lead to peritoneal irritation and localized pain rather than referred pain. Similarly, soft tissue injuries are generally localized and do not trigger the same complex pain pathways as solid organ injuries.