A Unified Concept of Renal Trauma

Abstract

Of 115 cases of renal trauma 75 injuries were blunt and 40 were penetrating. Primary exploration was done in 20% of the patients with blunt injuries and in 100% of those with penetrating injuries. A reparative procedure was done in 60% of the patients operated on for blunt trauma and in 73% of those operated upon for penetrating trauma. Only 3% of the patients with blunt injury and 28% of those with penetrating injury required a nephrectomy. Renal injuries should be classified by type and extent rather than by etiology; the extent of injury should be determined and not surmised; and the management of renal trauma is a function of the extent of injury and the over-all status of the patient. The non-operative management of an inadequately defined renal injury cannot be considered conservative management.