Pocket Emergency Medicine (Pocket Notebook Series) 3rd Ed.

GENITOURINARY TRAUMA

Definition

• Trauma to the structures of the genitourinary tract, uncommon to be life-threat unless significant renal/vascular injury

Approach

Inspection

• Blood at meatus (urethra trauma), blood in vagina, perineal lacerations (do not probe → hemorrhage), scrotal ecchymosis/lacerations, flank bruising

Palpation

• Rectal exam (high-riding prostate/boggy → membranous urethral injury, blood → rectal laceration), testicular disruption

Labs

• UA (microscopic hematuria → no eval, gross blood → serious GU trauma)

Radiology

• RUG: Males w/ blood at meatus before Foley placement (to prevent full urethral tear/false passage), inject 50 cc contrast into urethra → pelvic x-ray for extravasation

• Cystogram: Instill 400–500 cc contrast into bladder via Foley → AP film or CT scan → repeat image after contrast is washed out (posterior bladder tears)

• IV pyelogram: Rarely indicated

• CT scan (IV contrast): Complete eval of kidneys

Renal Laceration

Definition

• Laceration to kidney (major: Extend to medulla/collecting system, minor: No involvement of collecting system/medulla, no extraversion of urine)

History

• Penetrating trauma

Physical Findings

• Flank wound, gross hematuria, ± hypotension

Evaluation

• CBC, UA, other trauma labs as needed, CT scan: Eval extent of injury

Treatment

• Surgery consult, minor lacerations may be nonoperative

Disposition

• Admit

Renal Contusion

Definition

• Contusion to kidney

History

• Blunt trauma

Physical Findings

• Flank ecchymosis

Evaluation

• UA (if neg → no further testing), CT scan

Treatment

• Surgery consult, subcapsular hematoma → 24 h observation/serial HCT/serial UA/bed rest, microscopic hematuria → avoid strenuous exercise/repeat UA in 2 d + until clear

Disposition

• Admit: Major/subcapsular hematoma

• Home: Microscopic hematuria

Renal Pedicle/Vascular Injury

Definition

• Injury to renal pedicle or vasculature

History

• High-velocity deceleration, penetrating trauma

Physical Findings

• Flank ecchymosis, hypotension

Evaluation

• UA, CBC, Coags, BMP, CT scan: Nonenhancing kidney/± perirenal hematoma

Treatment

• Surgery consult for operative management → repair (20% salvage rate in pedicle lacerations) vs. nephrectomy

Disposition

• Admit

Renal Pelvis Rupture

Definition

• Rupture of the renal pelvis

History

• High-velocity deceleration, penetrating trauma

Physical Findings

• Flank ecchymosis, hypotension

Evaluation

• UA, CBC, Coags, BMP, CT scan: Extravasation of urine in perirenal space

Treatment

• Urology consult for operative repair

Disposition

• Admit

Pearl

• ↑ risk of infection in delayed repair

Ureteral Injuries

Definition

• Injury to ureter (very rare), majority are iatrogenic from gyn/uro procedures

History

• Hyperextension, penetrating trauma, forced flexion of L-spine → rupture below UPJ, delayed necrosis from microvascular injury after GSW (rare)

Evaluation

• UA, HCT, CT scan: Extravasation of urine, IVP (limited sens)

Treatment

• Urology consult for operative ureteroureterostomy

Disposition

• Admit

Intraperitoneal Bladder Rupture

Definition

• Rupture of the bladder w/ intraperitoneal spillage

History

• MVC, blunt trauma (burst injury)

Physical Findings

• Lower abdominal tenderness, ↓ UOP, hematuria

Evaluation

• UA, HCT, CT cystogram/cystogram: Extravasation of urine

Treatment

• Urology consult for urgent operative repair

Disposition

• Admit

Extraperitoneal Bladder Rupture

Definition

• Rupture of the bladder w/ extraperitoneal spillage

History

• MVC, blunt trauma

Physical Findings

• Lower abdominal tenderness, ↓ UOP, hematuria

Evaluation

• UA, HCT, CT cystogram/cystogram w/ washout: Extravasation of urine

Treatment

• Urology consult (usually nonoperative unless extends to bladder neck), Foley 10–14 d

Disposition

• Admit

Male Urethral Injuries

Definition

• Injury to posterior (prostatomembranous) urethra (a/w pelvic fractures, esp bilateral or both ipsilateral pubic rami fx & posterior disruption injuries) & anterior (bulbous/penile) urethra (a/w direct trauma to penis/penile fracture/saddle injuries/falls/GSW)

History

• Blunt or penetrating trauma

Physical Findings

• Blood at meatus, gross hematuria, inability to void

Evaluation

• UA, HCT, RUG (prior to Foley)

Treatment

• Suprapubic bladder decompression if needed, urology consult for primary repair/fluoroscopic catheter placement/suprapubic cystotomy

Disposition

• Admit

Female Urethral Injuries

Definition

• Injury to female urethra associated most commonly w/ pelvic fractures (rarely saddle injuries, falls, GSW, instrumentation)

History

• Blunt or penetrating trauma, much less common than in males

Physical Findings

• Vaginal bleeding, inability to place Foley, labial edema

Evaluation

• RUG not useful, passage of Foley precludes complete tear

Treatment

• Suprapubic bladder decompression if needed, urology consult for surgical repair

Disposition

• Admit

Testicular Contusion/Rupture

Definition

• Blunt trauma to the testicle leading to contusion or rupture (disruption of tunica albuginea)

History

• Blunt trauma, pain, swelling

Physical Findings

• Ecchymosis, edema, tenderness, inability to palpate testicle due to dislocation

Evaluation

• Testicular US (mod sens/spec for rupture)

Treatment

• Urology consult for surgical repair/clot evacuation (early intervention → ↓ morbidity)

Disposition

• Admit

Penile Fracture

Definition

• Blunt injury to the erect penis when penis is forcefully bent leading to rupture of the tunica albuginea/rupture of corpora cavernosa

History

• “Cracking sound” usually during sexual activity → severe pain

Physical Findings

• Swelling, discoloration (vascular engorgement), ecchymosis, blood at meatus (10–20% a/w urethral injury)

Evaluation

• RUG for urethral injury (concomitant injury in 15–20%)

Treatment

• Urology consult for surgical urethral repair/clot evacuation

Disposition

• Admit

Penile Amputation/Laceration

Definition

• Complete or partial amputation/laceration of the penis

History

• Penetrating trauma, zipper injury

Evaluation

• RUG or testicular US if associated injuries suspected

Treatment

• Amputation: Urology consult (best results in reimplanted in 18 h)

• Simple laceration: Repair w/ absorbable suture

• Zipper injury: Remove zipper w/ mineral oil/wire cutters at zipper median bar to break apart

Disposition

• D/C unless reimplantation required

Female Genital Injuries

Definition

• Injury to ovary, uterus, fallopian tube, vagina (difficult to Dx usually found when evaluating for other injury), a/w pelvic fractures

History

• Blunt or penetrating trauma, vaginal bleeding

Physical Findings

• Blood in vaginal vault, lower abdominal tenderness

Evaluation

• CT scan, pelvic US (in gravid pt, ↑ risk)

Treatment

• Open vaginal lacerations open → abx (ampicillin, gentamicin, Flagyl) GYN consult

• Simple vaginal lacerations: Repair w/ absorbable suture

Disposition

• Admit if needed



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