Blunt renal trauma in the pediatric patient

Injury to the kidney from blunt trauma occurs rather frequently in the active, pediatric patient. Early evaluation and treatment of these children is essential in order to preserve maximum renal function. Ninety cases of pediatric renal trauma from blunt injury have been reviewed. The majority of these responded well to careful conservative, non-operative management. Many of those requiring surgical intervention responded well to initial conservative treatment followed by surgical intervention conducted as an elective procedure within the first week after injury. Five case reports with associated radiographic studies are presented.