Demographics, Complications, and Management of Genitourinary Gunshot Wounds: National Trauma Data Bank Analysis

To evaluate the national prevalence and in-hospital outcomes of genitourinary-related (kidney, ureteral, bladder, urethral, penile, genital) gunshot wounds.

Genitourinary-related gunshot wound (GSW-GU) encounters were identified in the 2007-2021 National Trauma Data Bank using AIS-05 and ICD-9/10 codes. The primary aim of this study was to report GSW-GU injury location, patient demographics, surgical management, and complications. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze if injury severity score, age, sex, and race were associated with in-hospital complications.

There were 10,734 GSW-GU encounters, primarily involving young, male, non-Hispanic, and black individuals, with the most common cause being assault. Kidney (49.6%) and bladder (16.6%) were the most frequently injured locations. 7820 GSW-GU patients (72.9%) were taken directly to the operating room. In-hospital complications occurred in 14.1% of the cases.

GSW-GU disproportionately affect young males, with many injuries resulting from assaults. This pattern underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying causes of gun violence. GSW-GU patients are often taken directly to the operating room, likely due to hemodynamic instability and concomitant injuries to surrounding abdominal structures.