title: Sixteen years of experience with stone management in horseshoe kidneys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Horseshoe kidney is the commonest congenital renal fusion anomaly, and is often complicated by urolithiasis. We focus on our 16 years of experience with stone management in horseshoe kidneys.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the progress of 44 patients treated between 1987 and 2002. Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) was used in 25 patients; the average stone surface area was 91 (range 10-1,600) mm2 and average follow-up was 36.5 (range 1-91) months. 19 patients underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL); the average stone surface area was 197 (range 6-2,400) mm2. Follow-up data are available for 8 patients and the average follow-up was 42.3 (range 3-144) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the SWL group the 3-month stone-free rate (SFR) was only 31%. In the PCNL group the SFR was 75% on the postoperative day-1 KUB. Complications occurred in 9 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stone management in horseshoe kidneys is challenging: PCNL produces a higher SFR with minimal major complications and failed access. PCNL thus appears to be the preferred management option in patients with urolithiasis in horseshoe kidneys.
authors.affiliation: The Scottish Lithotriptor Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. domeviol@inwind.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.forename: Trevor J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sami A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tolley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D013997:Time Factors