[Gunshot wounds of low urinary tract in period of security crisis at the Sominé Dolo Hospital of Mopti (Mali): Epidemiological and diagnostic aspects]

Introduction: Firearm injuries to the lower urinary tract are injuries resulting from an energy transfer from a projectile fired by a firearm or a blast from a firearm, to the bladder, prostate, urethra and terminal ureter. Our objective was to describe the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects in the context of a security crisis.

Patients and method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of lower urinary tract firearm injuries at Sominé Dolo Hospital in Mopti from January 2017 to December 2021.

Results: In five years, 29 traumas of the lower urinary tract have been collected, about 6 cases per year. The mean age of patients was 27.48 years, the sex ratio was 13.5/1. The main circumstances of occurrence were intercommunal violence 51.72 %, war wounds 31.03 %. Injuries were inflicted by rifles in 62.1 % and improvised explosive devices in 37.9 %. The main modes of discovery were acute urine retention, hematuria and penoscrotal wounds respectively in 31.03 %, 20.69 %, 17.24 %. The organs affected were the urethra in 58.62 %, the bladder, 37.93 %, the prostate 3.45 %. Associated non-urological lesions present in 68.96 % (n=20) were dominated by intestinal lesions and pelvic fractures.

Conclusion: Firearm injuries to the lower urinary tract are rare despite the context of the security crisis. They affect young men, are mostly linked to intercommunal violence, and are dominated by urethral and bladder injuries.