Genitourinary Trauma

Abstract

Injury to the urogenital tract from blunt or penetrating trauma comprises 10% of injuries sustained from trauma with renal injuries comprising the majority of those cases at 1-5 % of all trauma, followed by bladder injuries. Worldwide variations in trauma mechanisms exist, with blunt trauma causing the majority of renal trauma in the United States. Careful attention to the mechanism, anatomic location, and specific physical and radiologic findings can aid in the diagnosis and appropriate management to optimize patient outcomes. Unless trauma is overtly obvious on a physical examination, imaging is required for diagnosis and staging purposes. Owing to the complexity of the urogenital tract, there is a great deal of variation in management, ranging from a conservative approach in most renal injuries to the need for operative intervention with intraperitoneal bladder rupture. This review discusses common practice and provides more recent up-to-date guidelines pertaining to the clinical history, examination findings, and imaging modalities, along with the diagnosis and management of injuries to the genitourinary system. Keywords: Genitourinary Trauma, Renal Trauma, Ureter Trauma, Bladder Trauma, Urethral Trauma, External Genitalia Trauma