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.     

Female urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture: a systematic review of the literature

To review systematically the literature on female urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture and to determine the optimum management of this rare injury. Using Meta‐analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology criteria, we searched the Cochrane, Pubmed and OVID databases for all articles available before 30 June 2016 using the terms ‘female pelvic fracture urethroplasty’, ‘female urethral distraction’, ‘female pelvic fracture urethral injury’ and ‘female pelvic fracture urethra girls.’ Two authors of this paper independently reviewed the titles, abstracts, and articles in duplicate. We identified 162 individual articles from the databases. Fifty‐one articles met our criteria for full review, including 158 female patients with urethral trauma. Of these injuries, 83 (53%) were managed with immediate repair; 17/83 (20%) via primary alignment and 66/83 (80%) via anastomotic repair. The remaining 75/158 (47%) were managed with delayed repair. Rates of urethral stenosis and fistula were highest after primary alignment. Urethral integrity appears to be similar after both primary anastomosis and delayed repair; however, patients experienced significantly more incontinence and vaginal stenosis after delayed repair. Patients who underwent delayed urethral repair were more likely to undergo more extensive reconstructive surgery than those who underwent primary repair. The optimum management of female urethral distraction defects is based on very‐low‐quality literature. Based on our review of the available literature, primary anastomotic repair of a female urethral distraction defect via a vaginal approach as soon as the patient is haemodynamically stable appears to be optimal.     

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.     

Vaginal prolapse affecting bladder function

When pelvic reconstructive surgery is being considered, it is important that the presence of cystocele be carefully and accurately assessed preoperatively and intraoperatively so that appropriate correction can be achieved. Continence is under the influence of urethral tone and the response of the proximal urethra to changes in intra-abdominal pressure. Cranial elevation of a rotated vesicourethral junction to a normal retropubic position should be provided. Any surgical technique that alters the normal axis of the vagina should be accompanied by simultaneous obliteration of the cul-de-sac of Douglas to lessen the chance of postoperative enterocele and subsequent eversion of the vault of the vagina. When massive vaginal eversion causes displacement of the vesicourethral junction, a restoration of vaginal depth and axis by posthysterectomy transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy with appropriate colporrhaphy will relocate a defective urethrovesical site to a higher and retropubic level within the pelvis, where the proximal urethra may once again be responsive to changes in intra-abdominal pressure.     

Management of male pelvic fracture urethral injuries: Review and current topics

Pelvic fractures from high‐energy blunt force trauma can cause injury to the posterior urethra, known as pelvic fracture urethral injury, which is most commonly associated with unstable pelvic fractures. Pelvic fracture urethral injury should be suspected if a patient with pelvic trauma has blood at the meatus and/or difficulty voiding, and retrograde urethrography should be carried out if the patient is stable. Once urethral injury is confirmed, urinary drainage should be established promptly by placement of a suprapubic tube or primary realignment of the urethra over a urethral catheter. Although pelvic fracture urethral injury is accompanied by subsequent urethral stenosis in a high rate and it has been believed that primary realignment can reduce the risk of developing urethra stenosis, it also has a risk of complicating stenosis and its clinical significance remains controversial. Once inflammation and fibrosis have stabilized (generally at least 3 months after the trauma), the optimal management for the resulting urethral stenosis is delayed urethroplasty. Delayed urethroplasty can be carried out via a perineal approach using four ancillary techniques in steps (bulbar urethral mobilization, corporal separation, inferior pubectomy and urethral rerouting). Although pelvic trauma can impair continence mechanisms, the continence after repair of pelvic fracture urethral injury is reportedly adequate. Because erectile dysfunction is frequently encountered after pelvic fracture urethral injury and most patients are young with a significant life expectancy, its appropriate management can greatly improve quality of life. In the present article, the key factors in the management of pelvic fracture urethral injury are reviewed and current topics are summarized.     

Delayed retropubic urethroplasty of completely transected female membranous urethra

Injuries to the female urethra, especially in childhood, are rarely seen with pelvic trauma. Complete transection of the membranous urethra was sustained by a ten-year-old girl in a car accident. A delayed retropubic urethroplasty after suprapubic cystostomy drainage was accomplished. The technique of the repair is described. Delayed repair in a female child is an excellent alternative to primary realignment if a primary repair cannot be accomplished.     

Obstruction after Burch colposuspension: a return to retropubic urethrolysis

We compare our postoperative outcomes of a vaginal vs abdominal urethrolysis after an obstructed Burch colposuspension. We performed a retrospective review of all women who had undergone a Burch urethrolysis from 1997 through 2003. Data collected included pelvic examination, cystoscopic and urodynamic findings, surgical morbidity, and pre- and postoperative urogynecologic symptomatology. Sixteen women underwent Burch urethrolysis. Preoperative symptoms were obstructive in 6, overactive in 2, and both (obstructive/overactive) in 8. All had an acute retropubic angulation of the urethral axis as well as a retropexed urethra that prohibited sagittal rotation of a rigid cystoscope. Seventy-eight percent of the women with urodynamic information met urodynamic criteria for urethral obstruction. Average follow-up was 7 months, and of those undergoing a vaginal urethrolysis, three out of seven (43%) had resolution of their obstructive or overactive symptoms postoperatively. In contrast, seven out of nine women (78%) who underwent a retropubic urethrolysis had relief of their obstructive or overactive bladder symptoms. In our cohort study, an abdominal retropubic urethrolysis was more successful in relieving urethral obstruction than a vaginal urethrolysis.     

Pelvic fracture injuries of the female urethra

OBJECTIVE: To review pelvic fracture urethral injuries in women, generally regarded as rare and thus discussed infrequently. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients (age range 7-51 years) with such injuries were reviewed; most had associated injuries, generally more severe than seen in males with urethral injuries. RESULTS: Patients with milder injuries, perhaps damaging just the innervation of the urethra, presented with incontinence; more severe injuries seemed to cause a longitudinal tear in the urethra but again patients presented mainly with incontinence problems. The most severe injuries were associated with complete rupture of the urethra and a distraction defect suggesting an avulsion injury. These problems were difficult to treat both reconstructively and in providing continence. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic fracture urethral injuries occur in females, but less often than in males. The female urethra seems relatively resistant to injury; differing degrees of severity of pelvic trauma cause different types of urethral injury but in general, a more severe injury is needed to damage it than is necessary in males.     

Pelvic fracture urethral injuries: the unresolved controversy

PURPOSE: The unresolved controversies about pelvic fracture urethral injuries and whether any conclusions can be reached to develop a treatment plan for this lesion are determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All data on pelvic fracture urethral injuries in the English literature for the last 50 years were critically analyzed. Studies were eligible only if data were complete and conclusive. RESULTS: The risk of urethral injury is influenced by the number of broken pubic rami as well as involvement of the sacroiliac joint. Depending on the magnitude of trauma, the membranous urethra is first stretched and then partially or completely ruptured at the bulbomembranous junction. Injuries to the prostatic urethra and bladder neck occur only in children. Injury to the female urethra usually is a partial tear of the anterior wall and rarely complete disruption of the proximal or distal urethra. Diagnosis depends on urethrography in men and on a high index of suspicion and urethroscopy in women. Of the 3 conventional treatment methods primary suturing of the disrupted urethral ends has the greatest complication rates of incontinence and impotence (21 and 56%, respectively). Primary realignment has double the incidence of impotence and half that of stricture compared to suprapubic cystostomy and delayed repair (36 versus 19 and 53 versus 97%, respectively, p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In men surgical and endoscopic procedures do not compete but rather complement each other for treatment of different injuries under different circumstances, including indwelling catheter for urethral stretch injury, endoscopic stenting or suprapubic cystostomy for partial rupture, endoscopic realignment or suprapubic cystostomy for complete rupture with a minimal distraction defect and surgical realignment if the distraction defect is wide. Associated injury to the bladder, bladder neck or rectum dictates immediate exploration for repair but does not necessarily indicate exploration of the urethral injury site. In women treatment modalities are dictated by the level of urethral injury, including immediate retropubic realignment or suturing for proximal and transvaginal urethral advancement for distal injury.     

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.     

The Clinical Utility of a Vaginal Template Designed to Standardize Suture Placement During Retropubic Colposuspensions

Suture placement and bite size utilizing a vaginal template are compared to a traditional surgical approach during modified retropubic colposuspension on four fresh-frozen human female cadavers. Overall, a larger suture bite was obtained utilizing the template (71.5 ± 4.6 vs 46.7 ± 25.3 mm², P= 0.001). However, with increased surgical experience the suture bites obtained with the traditional approach and template technique were similar. Inconsistent suture placement relative to the urethrovesical junction and urethra was observed with both techniques. Differences in pelvic floor anatomy make consistent suture placement with respect to the urethrovesical junction and urethra neither possible nor entirely preferable with either technique. There seems to be little clinical value in the use of this vaginal template during modified retropubic colposuspensions.     

女性解剖性前盆腔脏器清除术对控尿机制的影响

目的:探讨女性解剖性前盆腔脏器清除术对控尿机制的影响,以进一步指导相关临床工作和研究。方法:对符合研究需要的成人女性尸体20具进行控尿神经的大体解剖,然后模拟行经耻骨后解剖性前盆腔脏器清除术,以明确可能会损伤控尿神经的操作,并提出相应的防范措施。结果:女性盆丛的阴道丛和尿道丛有神经分支进入尿道,其中膀胱尿道丛量较少,紧贴盆侧壁几乎与尿道上缘平行走向尿道。阴部神经的阴蒂背神经和阴部神经发出神经支配尿道,以阴部神经为主要。明确上述控尿神经,模拟手术表明:紧贴盆壁的操作、尿道近端切除>0.5cm、吻合尿道-新膀胱进针过深等均易于损伤控尿神经和肌肉操作。结论:手术中应针对易于损伤的控尿神经、肌肉操作因素进行防范,有助于女性控尿机制的保护。     

A new surgical approach for the correction of female stress urinary incontinence

A new surgical approach for the correction of female urinary stress incontinence has been devised. The retropubic space is entered through a dome-shaped incision in front of the urethral meatus in the anterior vaginal vestibule. The incision does not extend beyond the lower edge of the symphysis pubis. With the tip of the hemostat or scissors the incision is opened longitudinally, and the lower legs of the incision are opened and freed up from the bulbocavernosus muscles. The bleeders are controlled. The layers of the genitourinary diaphragm are opened beginning from behind the symphysis pubis and the retropubic cavity is exposed. Then, the vesical neck and urethra are sutured to the back of the symphysis pubis in the midline. With this procedure there is no abdominal incision. The vesical neck and urethra are well exposed. The back of the symphysis pubis can be visualized with the patient in an exaggerated Trendelenburg position. All except 1 patient were cured. Hospitalization and postoperative recovery times were markedly reduced. The procedure affords easy access for drainage of the retropubic space. A new avenue is provided for insertion of an artificial sphincter to achieve urinary continence and for vesical neck colposuspension.     

Urological assistance during therapeutic pubectomy

PURPOSE: A technique is described to optimize exposure during female pubectomy to minimize injury to associated urological structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three females with diagnosed osteomyelitis pubis underwent pubectomy. Before resection of the bone, the patients underwent a formal combined transvaginal and retropubic dissection. This dissection allowed complete freeing of the urethra and bladder from areas of orthopedic resection and optimized surgical exposure. RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully with no incidence of intraoperative urological structure injury and no postoperative pelvic instability. None of the patients required intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusions. Pelvic pain resolved in all 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using a combined transvaginal and retropubic technique, the urologist may assist the orthopedic surgeon at the time of pubectomy. This technique potentially minimizes the incidence of vesical and urethral injury.     

Impact of pregnancy and childbirth on female rats’ urethral nerve fibers

This study aims to evaluate the urethral nerve fibers of adult female rats during pregnancy and after vaginal birth, cesarean section or simulated birth trauma. For immunohistochemical analysis of nerve fibers, 70 female rats were distributed in seven groups of ten female rats: group 1, control; group 2, pregnant; group 3, cesarean section; group 4, vaginal birth; group 5, virgin female rats with simulated birth trauma; group 6, cesarean section followed by simulation of birth trauma; and group 7, vaginal birth followed by simulation of birth trauma. The number of nerve fibers in groups 1, 2, and 3 were significantly higher than the other groups. Pregnancy and cesarean section did not cause alterations in the nerve fibers number. Vaginal birth and simulated birth trauma significantly decreased the number of nerve fibers in the female rats’ middle urethra.     

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。     

Diagnosis and classification of urethral injuries

Urethral injuries are uncommon and rarely life-threatening in isolation. They are, how-ever, among the most devastating urinary system injuries because of significant long-term sequelae, including strictures, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.Urethral trauma may be categorized by mechanism of injury (ie, blunt versus penetrating injury) and by location (ie, posterior versus anterior urethra). Injuries to the posterior urethra are classically associated with pelvic fractures, while anterior urethral trauma usually arises secondary to injudicious instrumentation or perineal straddle injury. This article reviews the major etiologies and mechanisms of urethral trauma, describes how these injuries are diagnosed, and explains classifications of urethral trauma. Timely and accurate diagnosis and classification of urethral injuries leads to appropriate acute management and reduced long-term morbidity.     

Obstructing urethral calculus in a woman revealed to be the cause of chronic pelvic pain

Urethral calculi are extremely rarely reported in Caucasian females and are usually associated with an anatomical abnormality such as a diverticulum or a stricture. Ureteric calculi can move to become lodged in the urethra, although this is rare in women because of their short urethral length. We present a case of a 55-year-old woman presenting with urinary retention secondary to an obstructing upper tract calculus that had moved into the urethra. Four years previously, the patient had been diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain following a primary posterior vaginal wall repair. Following treatment of the obstructing calculus, her symptoms of pelvic pain completely resolved. We report a very unusual case that highlights the importance of investigating chronic pelvic pain. This patient's symptom of vaginal pain, though highly localized, was caused by pathology elsewhere in the pelvis. Alternative diagnoses should be sought for such patients and investigation performed to detect any nonvisible hematuria.     

Complete rupture of the urethra in combination with anterior pelvic fracture and symphyseal rupture after spontaneous vaginal delivery

Summary We report on a complete longitudinal rupture of the urethra in combination with a rupture of the pubic symphysis and pelvic fracture during spontaneous vaginal delivery. Only after stabilisation of the pelvic fracture by external skeletal fixation adaptation of the urethra was possible. Three weeks later after removing of the transurethral catheter a mild stress incontinence could be observed. In the follow up one year later the patient was completely continent. The cosmetic result was satisfactory. There was no cystocele. An unclear haematuria after delivery needs a meticulous urological examination. Early repair of urethral disruption minimize the risk of severe incontinence. Coordinated care between the trauma surgeon and urologist is required for successful treatment of this rare combined injury after birth.      

What are the supportive structures of the female urethra?

AIMS: Female stress urinary incontinence is thought to result from impairment of the connective tissue "ligaments" of the urethra. Surgical repair of female incontinence mainly involves fixation of the urethra to the pubic bone or other surrounding structures. In the present anatomical-radiological study, the anatomy of the connective tissue structures around the female urethra was investigated to determine the anatomical structures that support the urethra and the rhabdosphincter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The topography of the anterior compartment of the female pelvis was studied in serial sections and one anatomical preparation of 30 female fetuses and of six adult females. The pelves of 29 female fetuses were processed according to plastination histology technique. The pelves of the six adult specimens were processed according to sheet plastination technique. In addition, the anatomical findings were compared with MR images of 41 adult female volunteers. RESULTS: The ventro-lateral aspect of the urethra remains free of fixating ligaments throughout its pelvic course. Ventro-laterally the urethra is enclosed by the ventral parts of the levator ani, its fasciae and a ventral urethral connective tissue bridge connecting both sides. Dorsally, the urethra is intimately connected to the wall of the vagina. CONCLUSIONS: The female urethra has no direct ligamentous fixation to the pubic bone. Urethral continence after pregnancy and childbirth may be explained by a widening of the hiatus of the levator ani or the anterior vaginal wall, resulting in overstretching of the ventral urethral connective tissue bridge or the disruption of the fixation between urethra and vagina.