Pelvic fracture urethral injuries in girls

PURPOSE: Injuries to the female urethra associated with pelvic fracture are uncommon. They may vary from urethral contusion to partial or circumferential rupture. When disruption has occurred at the level of the proximal urethra, it is usually complete and often associated with vaginal laceration. We retrospectively reviewed the records of a series of girls with pelvic fracture urethral stricture and present surgical treatment to restore urethral continuity and the outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1997, 8 girls 4 to 16 years old (median age 9.6) with urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture were treated at our institutions. Immediate therapy involved suprapubic cystostomy in 4 cases, urethral catheter alignment and simultaneous suprapubic cystostomy in 3, and primary suturing of the urethra, bladder neck and vagina in 1. Delayed 1-stage anastomotic repair was performed in 1 patient with urethral avulsion at the level of the bladder neck and in 5 with a proximal urethral distraction defect, while a neourethra was constructed from the anterior vaginal wall in a 2-stage procedure in 1 with mid urethral avulsion. Concomitant vaginal rupture in 7 cases was treated at delayed urethral reconstruction in 5 and by primary repair in 2. The surgical approach was retropubic in 3 cases, vaginal-retropubic in 1 and vaginal-transpubic in 4. Associated injuries included rectal injury in 3 girls and bladder neck laceration in 4. Overall postoperative followup was 6 months to 6.3 years (median 3 years). RESULTS: Urethral obliteration developed in all patients treated with suprapubic cystostomy and simultaneous urethral realignment. The stricture-free rate for 1-stage anastomotic repair and substitution urethroplasty was 100%. In 1 girl complete urinary incontinence developed, while another has mild stress incontinence. Retrospectively the 2 incontinent girls had had an associated bladder neck injury at the initial trauma. Two recurrent vaginal strictures were treated successfully with additional transpositions of lateral labial flaps. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes that combined vaginal-partial transpubic access is a reliable approach for resolving complex obliterative urethral strictures and associated urethrovaginal fistulas or severe bladder neck damage after traumatic pelvic fracture injury in female pediatric patients. Although our experience with the initial management of these injuries is limited, we advocate early cystostomy drainage and deferred surgical reconstruction when life threatening clinical conditions are present or extensive traumatized tissue in the affected area precludes immediate ideal surgical repair.     

Urethral injury in the multiple-injured patient

A total of 74 patients with urethral injury due to external trauma consisted of 48 posterior urethral injuries (25 complete rupture, 23 partial rupture) and 26 anterior urethral injuries (two complete rupture, 16 partial rupture, and eight contusion). The diagnosis was made by retrograde urethrography. All 48 patients with posterior urethral injury had associated injuries, including a fractured pelvis in 46, and a mortality rate of 33%. Only seven of the 26 patients with anterior urethral injury had associated injuries and a mortality rate of 14%. The management of posterior urethral injury is changing from primary realignment of the ruptured urethra to suprapubic cystostomy alone and followed later by urethral surgery for the resulting stricture. The impotence rate is significantly lower with management with suprapubic cystostomy alone. However, the type of pelvic fracture, the urethral injury itself disrupting neurovascular structures, and the surgical dissection (initial primary realignment or delayed urethroplasty) must be investigated before it can be determined whether the impotence associated with pelvic trauma is caused by the injury itself or by the surgical dissection undertaken to reconstruct the urethra.     

Pelvic Fracture Urethral Injuries: Evaluation of Various Methods of Management

Purpose

The results of various immediate treatments of urethral injuries complicating a fractured pelvis were evaluated.

Materials and Methods

The records of 100 male patients with pelvic fracture urethral injury were reviewed, 73 of whom were treated by suprapubic cystostomy and delayed repair, 23 by primary realignment and 4 by primary suturing. Also, the findings of 771 patients reported in the literature were reviewed.

Results

Urethral stricture was an almost inevitable consequence (97 percent of the cases) after suprapubic cystostomy. Primary realignment decreased the incidence of stricture to 53 percent but produced a 36 percent impotence rate. Primary suturing also decreased the incidence of stricture to 49 percent but produced the greatest complication rates for impotence (56 percent) and incontinence (21 percent).

Conclusions

Suprapubic cystostomy alone is indicated for incomplete urethral rupture, slight urethral distraction and critically unstable patients, and when there are inadequate facilities or inexperienced surgeons. Primary realignment is advised if there is wide separation of the urethral ends, or associated injury of the bladder neck or rectum. Primary suturing is not recommended for any condition.     

Injuries to the urethra and urinary bladder associated with fractures of the pelvis

The posterior urethra or urinary bladder may be injured in patients who sustain fractures of the bony pelvis. It is important to assess the urethra radiologically by retrograde urethrography before introducing a urethral catheter to avoid missing a urethral injury or causing further damage. The author's approach to the immediate management of urethral injury is suprapubic cystostomy. The urethra may be repaired later after other injuries have healed. With this approach the incidence of permanent impotence and incontinence will be low and the stricture cure rate high. If the urethra has not been injured, a catheter is introduced and cystography performed to rule out bladder injuries. If the bladder is ruptured, the area is explored, the perivesical space drained and urinary drainage is provided by either a suprapubic cystostomy or a urethral catheter.     

骨盆骨折致后尿道损伤的手术方式选择与疗效评价

目的:探讨骨盆骨折致后尿道损伤的外科术式选择及手术治疗的临床效果。方法:自2000年6月至2010年8月,回顾性分析72例骨盆骨折合并后尿道损伤患者的临床资料,其中男46例,女26例;年龄26～62岁,平均35.2岁;受伤至入院时间1～3h。按Tile骨盆骨折分类:A型8例,B型45例,C型19例。35例尿道部分断裂患者中,30例行导尿术,5例行Ⅰ期尿道断端吻合术联合膀胱造瘘术;37例尿道完全断裂患者中,25例行早期尿道会师术,12例行单纯膀胱造瘘术。对所有患者进行尿失禁、阳痿及尿道狭窄的评估和比较。结果:72例患者均获得随访,时间5～10年,平均7.7年。膀胱造瘘术患者尿道狭窄、阳痿和尿失禁的发生率显著高于Ⅰ期尿道断端吻合术者和早期行尿道会师术者(P<0.05);导尿术患者尿道狭窄、阳痿、尿失禁的发生率均远低于其余3组(P<0.05)。结论:对于后尿道部分断裂患者,导尿术或Ⅰ期尿道断端吻合术应首先考虑;而对于后尿道完全断裂患者,早期尿道会师术操作简单、并发症少,可作为首选治疗方法。     

Pelvic fracture-associated urethral injuries in girls: experience with primary repair

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with four urethral injuries in females accompanying a pelvic fracture, managed with primary repair or realignment of the urethra. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were three teenage girls and one adult (22 years old). All the patients had complete urethral injuries associated with a pelvic fracture from accidents. They were managed by immediate suprapubic cystostomy followed by repair or realignment of the urethra over a catheter on the same day. The catheter was removed after 3 weeks and a voiding cysto-urethrogram taken. Thereafter they were followed with regular urethral calibration. RESULTS: All patients voided satisfactorily with a good stream; three were fully continent and the fourth had transient stress urinary incontinence. One patient needed dilatation at 2 months and another visual internal urethrotomy at 5 months. At a mean (range) follow-up of 33 (9-60) months all the patients had a normal voiding pattern and were continent; none developed vaginal stenosis. CONCLUSION: Primary repair of the urethra, and if that is impossible, simple urethral realignment over a catheter, is the procedure of choice for managing female urethral injury associated with a pelvic fracture. The procedure has the additional advantage of reducing the risk of vaginal stenosis.     

骨盆骨折合并尿道断裂的早期手术治疗

目的探讨骨盆骨折合并尿道断裂的早期手术方法及其治疗效果。方法自1995年1月至2005年1月,共收治骨盆骨折合并尿道断裂患者25例。根据Tile的分型方法,骨盆稳定型损伤1例,旋转不稳定型损伤17例,旋转及垂直均不稳定型损伤7例。尿道完全断裂23例、部分断裂2例。手术方法包括：（1）急诊尿道吻合、尿道会师部分吻合、尿道会师、尿道阴道贯通伤修补,同期行骨盆骨折开放复位内固定术9例。（2）急诊尿道会师,延期（7—21d）行骨盆骨折切开复位内固定术10例。（3）急诊膀胱造瘘,限期（3～21d）行尿道会师及骨盆骨折切开复位内固定术6例。结果术后随访6～120个月,平均34个月。骨盆损伤根据Majeed的疗效标准,优17例,良5例,可3例。尿管拔除后,19例（76％）患者排尿通畅,最大尿流率平均为18．6mL／s,排泄性尿路造影示尿道断端对位良好,瘢痕平均长度为0．51cm;5例（20％）出现不同程度的排尿困难,须定期扩张尿道或改行其他手术;1例（4％）女性患者不能控制排尿,须进一步治疗。术后耻骨上原发软组织撕脱伤感染伴耻骨后脓肿形成1例,后尿道狭窄5例,阳痿3例,尿失禁1例。结论骨盆骨折的早期复位和有效固定是实现“无张力尿道修复”的解剖基础。     

Urethral injury due to external trauma

Fifty-six patients with urethral injuries comprised 35 involving the posterior urethra and 21 involving the anterior urethra. Immediate retrograde urethrography confirmed the clinical diagnosis made when blood was found at the external urinary meatus after external trauma. Traffic accidents caused most of the posterior urethral injuries and were associated with severe injuries to multiple systems and a significant mortality rate (34 per cent). Primary realignment of the urethral injury by a urethral catheter in all cases of urethral rupture (plus a suprapubic cystostomy in most of these cases) resulted in a stricture rate of 62 per cent on follow-up. However, only half of these strictures required surgical correction. The incidence of incontinence was 10 per cent and of impotence 38 per cent.     

Prostatomembranous urethral injuries: a review of the literature and a rational approach to their management

Controversy surrounds the management of prostatomembranous urethral injuries. We herein present 38 patients and review the findings of 538 in 19 reported series. Results indicate a high risk of stricture, impotence and incontinence if conventional early urethral realignment techniques are used. Therefore, it is suggested that this approach be reserved for cases demanding immediate intervention (high riding bladder, associated rectal tear, concomitant bladder neck injury or continued bleeding), and that all others be managed by initial suprapubic cystostomy alone and delayed urethroplasty. Urethroplasty selection is discussed.     

Voiding and sexual dysfunctions after pelvic fracture urethral injuries treated with either initial cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty or immediate primary urethral realignment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the different immediate treatment modalities on the sexual and voiding functions in pelvic fracture urethral injuries. METHODS: The records of 38 male patients with traumatic posterior urethral injuries were reviewed, 18 of whom were treated by initial suprapubic cystostomy and delayed repair (Group 1), and 20 by primary urethral realignment (Group 2). Types of pelvic fractures and urethral injuries were classified according to surgical and radiological findings. Long-term voiding functions were determined by the patient questionnaire, residual urine and uroflow. Sexual functions were also determined by the patient questionnaire and a penile duplex ultrasound study. RESULTS: Mean follow-ups of Groups 1 and 2 were 37 and 39 months, respectively. Membranous urethral disruption extending to the urogenital diaphragm was the most frequent urethral injury (type 3), with incidences of 66.7% and 77.7%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in mean age, incidence of pelvic fracture types and urethral injury types between groups (p > 0.05). After the immediate treatments, 16.7% and 55% of the patients regained normal urination, and stricture developed in 83.3% and 45% of the patients, respectively. In 44.4% of the patients in Group 1 and 10% in Group 2, urethral strictures required open urethroplasty (p < 0.05). Erectile impotence before urethroplasty in 17.6% and 20%, anejaculation after urethroplasty in 17.6% and 15% and incontinence in 5.6% and 10% of the patients were found in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p > 0.05). However, 88.8% and 90% of patients eventually achieved normal urination with complete continence. CONCLUSION: Sexual and voiding dysfunction after pelvic fracture posterior urethral injury seem to be the result of the injury itself, not of the immediate treatment modalities. In urethral disruption injuries, primary urethral realignment seems more favourable than suprapubic cystostomy and delayed repair.     

Trauma to the anterior urethra: diagnosis and management

Injuries to anterior urethra are uncommon, mainly due to blunt trauma, and rarely associated with pelvic fractures or life threatening multiple lesions. Straddle type injury is the most frequent lesion, in which the immobile bulbar urethra is crushed or compressed on the inferior surface to the pubic symphysis. Diagnosis of urethral injury is easy, suspected due to trauma circumstances, presence of urethrorragy or initial hematuria, and eventually difficult micturition and penile scrotal for perineoscrotal hematoma. It should always be confirmed and classified by retrograde urethro-gram, realized either immediately or after a few days. Initial acute management is suprapubic cystostomy, if possible before any attempt of urethral catheterization or miction. Urethral contusions only require this urinary diversion or urethral catheter for a few days and usually heal without any sequelae. Management of partial and complete disruptions remains controversial: suprapubic diversion only and secondary endoscopic or open surgical repair of the urethral stricture that occurs in the great majority of the cases (always after complete disruption), early endoscopic realignment and prolonged urethral catheterization (4 for 8 weeks according to the lesion), in partial disruptions, more controversial in complete disruptions; delayed (after a few days) open surgical repair (urethrorraphy) that is the preferred European and French attitude for complete disruptions. Penetrating anterior urethral trauma and urethral lesions associated with penile fracture require immediate surgical exploration and repair if possible. After anterior urethral disruption, the main morbidity is urethral stricture very often requiring surgical treatment (visual urethrotomy if the structure is short, end to end spatulated urethrorraphy, flap or graft urethroplasty if longer).     

Urethral injury secondary to pelvic fracture: anatomical and functional classification

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new functional and anatomical classification of urethral injury secondary to pelvic fracture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-six male patients (20 children, 36 adults) with urethral injuries secondary to pelvis fracture were evaluated. Clinical examination, retrograde urethrogram immediately after the accident, operative findings in the emergency state, subsequent combined retrograde urethrography and suprapubic cystography, operative findings during urethral reconstruction and postoperative follow-up were critically reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A new classification of urethral injury secondary to pelvic fracture is proposed as a result of our findings: Type 1. Injury to the prostate; 1a. Proximal avulsion of the prostate; 1b. Incomplete or complete trans-prostatic rupture. Type 2. Stretching of the membranous urethra. Type 3. Incomplete or complete pure rupture of the prostatomembranous junction, supradiaphragmatic. Type 4. Incomplete or complete rupture of the bulbomembranous urethra, infradiaphragmatic. Type 5. Variable combined urethral injuries affecting more than one level of the urethra, prostatic and membranous or prostatomembranous and bulbomembranous, injury to proximal sphincteric mechanism combined with prostatic and/or membranous urethral injury. CONCLUSIONS: This anatomical and functional classification includes all types of urethral injuries secondary to pelvic fracture; moreover, it directs the attention towards evaluation of the urethral sphincteric mechanism, which is essential for the therapeutic and medicolegal aspects.     

Posttraumatic complete and partial loss of urethra with pelvic fracture in girls: an appraisal of management

PURPOSE: Urethral injury in girls accompanying fracture of the pelvis is rare. We present our experience with 5 such complex cases and review the literature to define the types of problem and determine appropriate management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report on 5 girls with posttraumatic urethral injuries and pelvic fracture resulting in stricture as well as management based on the site and length of urethral stricture. Associated injuries and results are discussed. RESULTS: Of the 5 girls who presented with stricture 4 had undergone suprapubic cystostomy as initial treatment, whereas in 1 primary repair had failed. Urethral reconstruction using a bladder flap tube and distal urethrotomy into the vagina were performed in 3 and 1 cases, respectively. These 4 girls were continent although 1 required clean intermittent catheterization for a short period. The 3 patients with complete urethral loss had a more severe degree of pelvic fracture, including 1 treated with core through internal urethrotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Posttraumatic urethral injury accompanying pelvic fracture in young girls results in challenging management situations. More severely displaced pelvic fracture is associated with greater urethral loss and requires more complex repair. Cases of partial urethral injury or urethral transection without much displacement are better managed by primary repair of the transected urethra, which decreases morbidity. Primary repair may not be feasible in patients with extensive injury, who should be treated with secondary appropriate reconstruction after preliminary suprapubic cystostomy. Complete urethral loss may be managed by bladder flap tube neourethra creations with effective continence and excellent outcomes. Short segment distal urethral strictures may be treated with meatotomy or core through internal urethrotomy.     

Die Verletzung der hinteren Harnröhre

Injuries of the posterior urethra are a result of a blunt trauma of the pelvic ring, lacerations of the perineum and iatrogenic perforation due to transurethral manipulations. Traumatic lesions of the posterior urethra in about 10% of these patients suffer also a bladder lace ration. The diagnosis of a urethral injury is ascertained by an i. v. urogramm and urethrogram. If a urethral trauma is suspected the insertion of a catheter should be avoided in any case. The treatment is divided in emergency treatment, which means evacuation and drainage of the haematoma and extravasation and suprapubic urinary derivation made by the surgeon and the primary realignment of delayed urethral reconstruction, both interventions being reserved for well trained urologists. Minimal lesions characterized by preserved continuity in small extravasations in the urethrogram are sufficiently treated by a suprapubic urinary diversion. Severe injuries are treated by realignment of the urethra over a splint, drainage of the perivesical space and urinary diversion. 63 % of the patient treated by this modality had perfect results and there was no need for further therapy. The proper replacement of the fractured pelvi bones are an integrated part of our plan of treatment. About 12% of patients with pelvic fracture and injury of the posterior urethra experience loose their potency. These can be explained by neurovascular injury. Impotence does not seem to be caused by surgical treatment, since the rate of impotence is similar in patients treated by primary realignment and suprapubic urinary diversion only.     

Pro: endoscopic realignment for pelvic fracture urethral injuries

Patients with pelvic fracture urethral distraction injuries may benefit from early endoscopic realignment. Realignment is associated with a low risk of immediate complications and has a high success rate for achieving catheter placement. Review of over thirty studies assessing for subsequent urethral stenosis, including at least a dozen that directly compare realignment to suprapubic diversion along, conclude that there is a benefit averaging at least 35% in favor of realignment. Furthermore, realignment may result in easier subsequent urethroplasty and possibly shorter stenoses.     

Posterior urethral trauma and strictures: an attempt to solve a controversy

Three cases of traumatic partial or complete posterior urethral rupture and subsequent stricture are reported. Treatment consisted of early suprapubic cystostomy, with/or without concomitant primary realignment of the urethra over a catheter, followed by urethral dilations and internal urethrotomy when indicated. Followup of 4 or more years showed excellent results.     

Evaluation and management of traumatic posterior urethral disruption with flexible cystourethroscopy

BACKGROUND: We sought to consolidate evaluation and management of traumatic urethral disruption using cystourethroscopic evaluation without retrograde urethrogram or suprapubic cystostomy placement. METHODS: We review our experience with initial flexible cystourethroscopic evaluation of suspected urethral injury from blunt trauma with placement of a Council urethral catheter to provide primary endoscopic realignment of the urethra. RESULTS: Access into the bladder was achieved in 8 of 10 patients. After a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 9-27 months) in the six living patients, only three have required treatment for urethral stricture--direct vision internal urethrotomy in two, and open perineal urethroplasty in one. Urinary continence has been achieved in five of six patients. CONCLUSION: Primary flexible cystourethroscopy with placement of a urethral catheter streamlines evaluation of traumatic posterior urethral injury. In the presence of partial disruption it provided stricture-free outcomes in three of three surviving patients.     

Recent traumatic injuries of the urethra

Traumatic injuries of the urethra are uncommon. Most lesions of the anterior (bulbar urethra) are straddle injuries and are initially dealt with by a suprapubic catheter with delayed treatment when urethral stenosis does ensue. Traumatic disruption of the posterior urethra is in most cases related to a pelvic fracture and is often associated with multiple life-threatening injuries, which receive priority treatment. Management of posterior urethral disruption remains a highly controversial issue: alternative treatments include early endoscopic realignment, early open surgical repair and suprapubic catheter and delayed open surgical repair. Management of urethral injuries is described and the different operative techniques are detailed.     

Pelvic Fracture and Associated Urologic Injuries

Successful management of patients with major pelvic injuries requires a team approach including orthopedic, urologic, and trauma surgeons. Each unstable pelvic disruption must be treated aggressively to minimize complications and maximize long-term functional outcome. Commonly associated urologic injuries include injuries of the urethra, corpora cavernosa (penis), bladder, and bladder neck. Bladder injuries are usually extraperitoneal and result from shearing forces or direct laceration by a bone spicule. Posterior urethral injuries occur more commonly with vertically applied forces, which typically create Malgaigne-type fractures. Common complications of urethral disruption are urethral stricture, incontinence, and impotence. Acute urethral injury management is controversial, although it appears that early primary realignment has promise for minimizing the complications. Impotence after pelvic fracture is predominantly vascular in origin, not neurologic as once thought.     

Immediate Management of Posterior Urethral Disruptions Due to Pelvic Fracture: Therapeutic Alternatives

Purpose

We retrospectively reviewed the results of 3 types of initial management of pelvic fracture urethral disruption in children.

Materials and Methods

From 1980 to 1994, 35 boys 2 to 15 years old (mean age 8.1) with prostatomembranous urethral disruption were treated, including 17 who also had associated injuries. Immediate treatment included suprapubic cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty in 19 patients (group 1), urethral catheter alignment without traction and concomitant suprapubic cystostomy in 10 (group 2), and primary retropubic anastomotic urethroplasty in 6 (group 3).

Results

In all patients in groups 1 and 2 severe urethral obliteration developed. Four group 3 patients (66%) had a stricture at the site of anastomotic repair. After delayed urethroplasty 16 group 1 (84%) and all 10 group 2 patients were continent. However, only 3 group 3 patients (50%) achieved continence. Retrospectively associated bladder neck injury occurred in 5 of the 6 incontinent boys. Erections were observed before and after treatment in all but 3 children. Unstable pelvic ring fractures (type IV) comprised 28% of all pelvic fractures with a high rate of associated injuries.

Conclusions

As described, urethral alignment was not beneficial for avoiding urethral obliteration. Therefore we recommend suprapubic cystostomy as the only form of initial treatment in these cases. Urinary incontinence seems more likely related to associated bladder neck rupture and the severity of pelvic fracture rather than to initial treatment or delayed urethral repair. Consequently, when associated bladder neck injury is present, we advocate immediate surgical repair.