No abstract

Scrotal ultrasonography, with the single radiographic finding of a heterogeneous echo pattern of the testicular parenchyma with loss of contour definition, is highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of testicular rupture in an otherwise equivocal scrotal examination. Accurate diagnosis and prompt repair led to a salvage rate for testicular rupture specifically of 83% and overall of 92%, with preservation of the testicular parenchyma and hormonal function, and avoidance of the delayed complications of chronic pain, atrophy and orchiectomy associated with missed testicular rupture.

Objectives We sought to analyze trends in male urethral stricture management through the use of 1992–2001 Medicare claims data, and to determine whether certain racial and ethnic groups bear a disproportionate burden of urethral stricture disease. Methods We analyzed Medicare claims for fiscal years 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001. ICD-9 diagnosis codes were used to identify men with urethral stricture. Demographic characteristics assessed included patient age, race, and comorbidities as measured by the Charlson index. Treatments were identified by CPT-4 procedure codes and stratified into four treatment types: (1) urethral dilation, (2) direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU), (3) urethral stent/steroid injection, and (4) urethroplasty. Results Overall rates of stricture diagnosis decreased from 10,088 per 100,000 population in 1992 to 6,897 in 2001 (1.4% to 0.9%). Stricture prevalence was highest among African American and Hispanic men, although urethroplasty rates were highest among Caucasians. DVIU was the most common treatment, followed by urethral dilation, urethral stent/steroid injection, and urethroplasty. Urethroplasty rates remained stable, but quite low (0.6–0.8%), over the period of study. Conclusions Overall rates of stricture diagnosis decreased from 1992 to 2001. Despite the poor overall efficacy of urethrotomy and urethral dilation relative to urethroplasty, and despite the known complications of stent placement in this setting, urethroplasty rates were the lowest of all treatments. Although we cannot determine treatment success with these data, these findings suggest an underuse of the most efficacious treatment for urethral stricture disease, urethroplasty.

Management of recurrent bladder neck contractures with radial urethrotomy combined with intralesional mitomycin C resulted in bladder neck patency in 72% of the patients after 1 procedure and in 89% after 2 procedures. Although early results are promising, longer followup and randomized, prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Management of grade IV renal injuries is complex and demanding if renal salvage is to be achieved. Selective operative vs nonoperative management is based on the presence of associated nonrenal injuries, the hemodynamic stability of the patient, the degree of renal staging and the skill of the surgeon. Isolated grade IV renal injuries represent a unique situation to treat the patient based solely on the extent of the renal injury, thus nonoperative management is used more frequently. Persistent bleeding represents the main indication for renal exploration and reconstruction. In all cases of severe renal injury nonoperative management should only occur after complete renal staging in hemodynamically stable patients.