Print Topic|Self Guided Lecture|Feedback

Trauma

By Philip E. Gleason, MD

Trauma, or injury to the urinary tract, is fairly uncommon. The kidneys are fairly well protected along the back by the ribs and surrounding structures. In addition, the bladder is fairly well protected in the pelvis, by the pelvic bones and surrounding structures. However, injuries to the urinary tract do occur. While this can occur at any age, traumatic injuries become more common as children get older, become adolescents and young adults, and become more active in more physical activities.

In general, traumatic urinary injuries fall into two broad categories. The first broad category involves penetrating injuries such as gun shots or knife wounds to the back and abdomen which injure the urinary system as well as other organs. The second category may be blunt injuries to the abdomen such as being involved in a motor vehicle accident or being struck by a car or being hit by an object or falling, etc. Either mechanism can injure the kidneys, bladder, urethra or external genitalia. In this topic section we will discuss some introductory information regarding the more common general mechanisms and presentations of traumatic injuries, and their evaluation, diagnosis and management.