[Results of the West German multicenter study "Urological traumatology"]

The West German Multicenter Study on Urological Traumatology ran from April 1984 to December 1986. During this time, 19 departments of urology evenly scattered over the Federal Republic of Germany including Berlin (West) recorded and evaluated the data pertaining to a total of 385 patients (83% male, 17% female) with urogenital trauma. The distribution of the different mechanisms of injury demonstrates that 41% were due to traffic accidents; 13% each to accidents during sports and work; 8% to sexual activities; and 6% to violence. The trauma was slight in 40% of the cases, moderate in 21%, and severe in 39%. Of a total of 427 urogenital injuries, 27% were combined with intra-abdominal and 24% with pelvic injuries. Renal injuries were recorded in 51%, ruptures accounting for 49% of these and contusions for 48%. Hilar lesions were observed in 7%, with complete destruction of the organ occurred in 6% of these cases. In all, 76% of these traumas were treated conservatively, while 8% each required surgical reconstruction and nephrectomy. Traumatic lesions of the urinary bladder, urethra, penis, and scrotum including the testes and accessory organs were recorded in about 10% each. Macrohematuria was seen with 73% of renal, 83% of urinary bladder, and 73% or urethral injuries. Microhematuria occurred with 24%, 9%, and 13% of all cases, while no hematuria was ascertained in 3%, 5%, and 13% of renal, bladder and urethral traumas, respectively. The injury-related sensitivity of the different imaging methods was calculated at 95% for cystograms, 91% for retrograde urethrograms, and 83% for angiograms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)