[Ureteral obstruction caused by a grenade splinter]

It is reported on a 59-year-old patient who towards the end of the Second World War suffered a shell-splinter injury and was admitted to hospital under the picture of an acute ureteric obstruction with pyonephrosis 40 years after the event. One year after the operative removal of the obstructing shell-splinter again normal contrast medium excretion of the kidney affected and subjective symptom-free state of the patient. The symptom-free interval of 4 decades is remarkable. The difficulties of the establishment of the primary diagnosis as well as possible early and late complications of bullet and splinter injuries of the urinary tract are discussed.