Urethro vaginal injuries associated with pelvic fracture – A spectrum of clinical presentation and management

Abstract

Blunt trauma to the paediatric pelvis is associated with urethral rupture, sometimes even without a bony fracture. While such rupture of the male urethra has received considerable mention, female urethral injury is both less common and has received less attention. We describe 4 cases of urethro vaginal injury associated with pelvic fracture, its varied presentations and the modalities employed in its management. A retrospective study was done to identify 4 patients who presented to our institution between 2007 and 2018. All 4 girls suffered a loss of a urethral segment ranging from the distal urethra (n=2) to complete urethral loss (n=2) and rupture of the bladder neck in one. All 4 girls also had associated vaginal injury resulting in varied clinical presentation including total urinary incontinence, urocolpos, vaginal voiding via an acquired hypospadias and urinary retention with late onset haematocolpos. All were managed initially with SPC and three of them underwent urethral substitution with Monti ileal tube in two and vestibular mucosal flap in one. The hypospadiac neo-meatus was continent and was left alone. The ruptured vagina was repaired by rectus muscle interposition, direct suturing, posterior vaginal U flap or colonic patch. An appendicular Mitrofanoff was added for safety in 2 girls. Follow up was done till June 2019 (range 1-12 years). All patients voided satisfactorily and were fully continent. Normal menstrual function was present in the 3 post pubertal children. A traumatic force capable of causing urethral injury may often result in associated vaginal injury and should not be overlooked. Thus urinary retention is not the only presentation of urethral injury in girls. Fistulation to the vagina may result in continent or incontinent vaginal voiding if the vagina has not been transected and urocolpos/haematocolpos in those with vaginal transection. Various modalities maybe employed to maintain continuity of the urethra and vagina including use of bowel and local flaps.