[2] The most common cause of a ruptured spleen is blunt abdominal trauma, such as in traffic collisions or sports accidents.

[5] A diagnostic peritoneal lavage, while not ideal, may be used to evaluate the presence of internal bleeding a person who is hemodynamically unstable.

[8] Because a splenic rupture permits large amounts of blood to leak into the abdominal cavity, it can result in shock and death.

[7][9] During this period of nonoperative management strict bed rest between 24 and 72 hours with careful monitoring along with a CT seven days after the injury.

If an individual's spleen is enlarged, as is frequent in mononucleosis, most physicians will advise against activities (such as contact sports) where injury to the abdomen could be catastrophic.