Radiologic clinics of North America
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · Mar 1981
ReviewRadiology of the bladder and urethra in blunt pelvic trauma.
Appropriate radiologic studies are mandatory for assessing the extent and nature of lower urinary tract injuries following blunt pelvic trauma. A flow sheet summarizing these radiographic studies is presented in Figure 24. With pelvic fracture, two injuries may be found--extraperitoneal rupture of the bladder and rupture of the posterior urethra. ⋯ Intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder occurs as a result of a blow to the lower abdomen or pelvis in patients whose urinary bladder is distended at the time of injury. A pelvic fracture may or may not be present. Anterior urethral injuries are more commonly associated with instrumentation in the male patient; they may, however, occur as a result of blunt injury to the external genitalia or perineum.
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Until now, CT has been utilized very little in the evaluation of the bluntly traumatized patient. Based on our early experience, we have attempted to demonstrate the CT features of a spectrum of injuries. Much of this information is new and additional studies will have to be performed to elucidate fully the benefits of computed tomography in the diagnosis of trauma. A method of study has been outlined which stresses the use of intravascular, oral, and, when needed, rectal contrast materials for study in these patients.