Ureteral trauma: Patterns and mechanisms of injury of an uncommon condition

BackgroundTraumatic ureteral injuries are uncommon, thus large series are lacking.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank (2002–2006).ResultsOf the 22,706 genitourinary injuries, 582 ureteral injury patients were identified (38.5% blunt, 61.5% penetrating). Patients were 84% male, 38% white, and 37% black (mean age, 31 y). Blunt trauma patients had a median Injury Severity Score of 21.5 versus 16.0 for penetrating injury (P < .001). Mortality rates were 9% blunt, and 6% penetrating (P = .166). Penetrating trauma patients had a higher incidence of bowel injuries (small bowel, 46%; large bowel, 44%) and vascular injuries (38%), whereas blunt trauma patients had a higher incidence of bony pelvic injuries (20%) (P < .001).ConclusionsUreteral injuries are uncommon, seen in approximately 3 per 10,000 trauma admissions, and occur more in penetrating than in blunt trauma. The most common associated injury for blunt ureteral trauma is pelvic bone fracture, whereas penetrating ureteral trauma patients have more hollow viscus and vascular injuries.