Introduction Damage control laparotomy (DCL) for trauma is thought to be associated with
increased abdominal complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of
DCL on abdominal complications by comparing two groups of trauma patients: DCL patients
who were prospectively adjudicated to potentially being closed at the primary laparotomy
(potential DEF or pDEF) and those who underwent definitive laparotomy (DEF). Methods
The pDEF group was matched to DEF patients according to mechanism of injury, abdominal …