Effect of colon injury on the management of simultaneous renal trauma.

Abstract

We determined the effect of simultaneous colon injury on the management of renal trauma. A retrospective review was done of 62 cases of colon and renal injuries from 1977 to 1994, representing 2.5% of 2,596 renal trauma cases. Renal trauma management was consistent with the grade of renal injury. Renal exploration was performed in 58% of the cases, with nephrectomy performed in 16% of the explorations and only for severely injured kidneys. Urological complications occurred in 16% of the cases but they resulted in loss of only 1 renal unit. Renal injury and reconstruction should not be treated differently in the face of colon injury, including gross fecal contamination.