Renal trauma (kidney trauma)
About Renal trauma (kidney trauma)
Trauma to the kidney can be as simple as bruising that causes only temporary symptoms of bloody urine. It can also be more serious, causing kidney failure. Trauma is usually blunt injury (motor vehicle accident or fall) but can be a penetrating injury (gunshot wound or stab wound). Symptoms and treatment depend on the injury.Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the injury but may include: flank pain (kidney pain), bloody urine, no urine production (anuria), decreased urine output (oliguria).Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. A CT scan is the most common test used to see kidney injury after trauma.Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, MRI, Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound.
Conventional treatment summary
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Repeated blood tests or ultrasound tests are used for close observation after an injury of the kidney. Drainage of a pocket of blood (hematoma) around the kidney may be necessary. Surgery may be necessary. It is possible to survive with only one kidney after trauma injures the other kidney.Medical specialties
Trauma Surgery
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Renal trauma (kidney trauma).