Bicycle-related genitourinary injuries

Abstract

Objective: To use the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) to evaluate bicycling-related genitourinary (GU) injury. Bicycling is a popular recreational and competitive sport with recognized risks. GU injuries associated with bicycling is unknown.

Methods: Patient cases were extracted from the NTDB, version 9.1, using the mechanism of injury Ecode for pedal cyclist and ICD-9 codes for GU injuries. The type of GU injuries, patient demographics, Injury Severity Score, surgical management, outcomes, and disposition were analyzed.

Results: Of 635,013 trauma cases evaluated, 16,585 were identified as trauma because of bicycle injury. GU injuries were sustained in 358 (2%) patients; 86% were male, with a mean age of 29 years. The most commonly injured GU organ was the kidney (75%), followed by bladder and urethra (15%), and penis and scrotum (10%). These injuries resulted in nephrectomy (0.4%), cystorrhaphy (11.3%), scrotorrhaphy (42.1%), testicular repair (3.1%), and penile repair (7.5%). Most common associated injuries included vertebral fracture (35%), pelvic fracture (25%), spleen (19%), and open head wound (15%). Patients who sustained a vertebral fracture commonly sustained a concomitant bladder and urethra (37.7%) or a renal injury (22.6%).

Conclusion: GU injury is an infrequent occurrence with bicycle trauma, occurring in 2% of bicycle injuries, with kidneys being the most commonly injured GU organ. Physicians treating bicyclists who sustained a vertebral fracture should be aware of a possible concomitant renal or bladder injury. Young males appear to be principally at risk for GU injury.