[An analysis of 30 patients with renal trauma: diagnostic value of radiographic examinations].

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the diagnostic value of radiographic examinations in renal trauma, 30 patients treated between April, 1985 and March, 1988 were examined. The 25 male and 5 female patients ranged in age from 10 to 74 years, with 17 (57%) less than 30 years of age. Causes of injuries were traffic accidents in 19 patients (63%), falls in 5 (17%), sports in 2 (7%), and others in 4 (13%). Twenty-nine patients (97%) had hematuria and 3 (10%) had shock due to renal injury. The presence of shock indicated severe renal injury, but the degree of hematuria did not correlate to severity of injury. Of the 30 patients, 18 (60%) had renal contusions, 7 (23%) had minor lacerations, 4 (13%) had major lacerations and one had vascular injury. One patient had penetrating trauma and the other 29 had blunt trauma. Two patients (7%) had pre-existing renal anomalies. Associated injuries were present in 16 patients (53%). The presence of associated injuries had no relation to the severity of the renal injury. Computerized tomography (CT) with contrast medium was more sensitive to abnormal findings, especially subcapsular and perirenal hematoma, than excretory pyelography. Findings of renal angiography provided additional anatomical information for deciding immediate surgical treatment and for selecting operative methods for salvage of the kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)