EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT OF BLUNT RENAL TRAUM A

Forty-two patients with blunt renal injuries were treated between 1984 and 1994 at our institution. Twenty-nine patients revealed a contusio n (grade I injury), 10 showed lacerations (grade II), 1 a severe fract ure (grade III), and 2 presented pedicle injuries (grade IV). AII 10 p atients with incomplete renal injuries (grade II) were treated conserv atively, i.e. without primary surgery. One of these 10 patients requir ed surgical intervention 3 months after the trauma due to a urinary ob struction. Two of the ten patients with grade II injuries suffered lat e complications, namely a contracted kidney in one case and hypertensi on in the other. This means that of 10 patients with conservatively tr eated grade II renal trauma, a loss of the function of the affected ki dney occurred in only one. In 9 patients complete function of the kidn ey could be preserved. In conclusion, conservative management of incom plete blunt renal injuries is an effective treatment option with few c omplications.