Urethral Injury

Excerpt

Urethral injury is a relatively rare medical condition accounting for less than 1% of all emergency department visits in the United States. Injury patterns vary and encompass urethral crush, bruising, laceration, and transection. Urethral injuries are never life-threatening, but if left untreated can cause significant morbidity. While most injuries are iatrogenic, traumatic etiologies often caused by high energy mechanisms certainly do carry mortality threats. The injury extent and anatomical location are formative in the development of a management plan.

Clinicians classically use several anatomical landmarks in the evaluation, classification, and management of urethral injuries, which is particularly important among male patients. The male urethra subdivides into anterior and posterior divisions delineated by the urogenital diaphragm. The anterior segment consists of the penile and bulbar urethra while the posterior urethra consists of the membranous and prostatic portions.