Urethral injuries in the Civil War

Abstract

Purpose: We compiled all cases of urethral injury received in battle during the Civil War to detail their management and determine the outcome of treatment.

Materials and methods: Surgeon medical reports of individual cases of urethral injury listed in the Medical and Surgical History of the Civil War, and pension records available in the National Archives and Records Administration were reviewed.

Results: A total of 105 cases of urethral injury from gunshot wounds, comprising 7% of all urogenital casualties, were reported during the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Of them 22 (21%) were fatal and 83 patients (79%) cases survived. Debridement and catheter drainage of urinary extravasation or perineal urethrotomy was initial treatment. The majority of urethral injuries were complicated by troublesome strictures, fistulas, urinary incontinence and erectile impotence. Only 19 patients (23%) recovered fully.

Conclusions: Civil War urethral injuries had devastating long-term consequences.