Imaging of Urologic Trauma

Urol Clin North Am. 2025 Feb;52(1):61-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.07.008. Epub 2024 Oct 10.

Abstract

Urologic trauma encompassed a wide range of injuries affecting the urologic tract, resulting from various traumatic events or iatrogenic procedures. This review explores the clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and management approaches of urologic trauma, emphasizing the critical role of imaging, particularly computed tomography, in accurately assessing and guiding treatment decisions. Renal, ureteral, bladder, and urethral trauma are comprehensively discussed, including mechanisms of injury, classification systems, and therapeutic interventions. In addition, we discuss potential complications such as post-traumatic urinoma, delayed bleeding, urinary fistula, perinephric abscess, pyelonephritis, and hydronephrosis.

Keywords: Complications; Imaging modalities; Renal trauma; Urologic trauma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Kidney / diagnostic imaging
  • Kidney / injuries
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Ureter / diagnostic imaging
  • Ureter / injuries
  • Urethra / diagnostic imaging
  • Urethra / injuries
  • Urinary Bladder / diagnostic imaging
  • Urinary Bladder / injuries
  • Urinary Tract / diagnostic imaging
  • Urinary Tract / injuries