OBJECTIVETo investigate the histopathological changes in the liver and other organs after impact injury.

METHODSThe rabbits were impacted with a BIM-IV biological impacting machine at the xiphoid process. The severity of liver injury was graded and scored through gross anatomy. At the same time, the pathological changes in the liver, heart, and lung were observed by light and electron microscopes.

RESULTSLight microscopy showed that the pathological changes in the liver were: 1) loss of normal structure, hemorrhage and distortion of hepatic lobules; 2) cloudy swelling, degeneration, vacuolation and necrosis of liver cells; 3) infiltration of neutrophils. The lungs were injured and there were liver cell emboli in the small pulmonary arteries. Electron microscopy showed that the ultrastructure of the liver cells was severely damaged and the cells had significant features of necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe major pathomorphological changes in the liver after impact injury are hemorrhage and necrosis. They may be complicated by exfoliation of liver cells to hepatic sinusoids. These cells circulate with the blood to form emboli in the pulmonary blood vessels.