The urologist is frequently summoned to the operating room to assist with urethral catheterization. This article presents the authors' method and techniques for dealing with the "impassible urethra." Oftentimes the patient has been traumatized. A sequential plan is presented that allows for maximal evaluation of the entire urinary tract along with eventual urethral catheterization. In the case of the disrupted urethra, diversion must be accomplished. The authors have found that the placement of a urethral catheter along with division of intact puboprostatic ligaments in the stable patient frequently limits the eventual morbidity of the trauma.