Objective: To determine the optimal management, conservative or surgical, of patients with penetrating or blunt Type III renal injuries.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study comprised 122 patients with blunt abdominal or penetrating trauma with suspected significant renal injuries. Forty-five patients (32 penetrating and 13 blunt trauma) with Type III injury were identified. Of these patients, 28 (17 penetrating and 11 blunt trauma) had their renal injuries treated conservatively while 14 patients, all with penetrating injuries, underwent immediate surgical repair. Three patients died from multiple trauma shortly after arrival in the emergency room.
Results: In the 42 surviving patients with Type III renal injuries, four required delayed intervention. These included two of those managed conservatively and two of the 14 who underwent initial surgical intervention. Three renal units were lost, all of which were in those treated surgically. Thus, of the 42 surviving patients with Type III renal trauma, 28 (67%) were successfully managed conservatively without renal loss.
Conclusion: This study suggests that Type III penetrating trauma may be successfully managed conservatively with a similar outcome to those patients with Type III blunt injuries. Initial surgical intervention may only be necessary in those with associated intra-abdominal injuries or haemodynamic instability.