Value of transrectal ultrasonography in female traumatic urethral injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the value of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in traumatic urethral injuries of various types in females.


METHODS
A total of 30 female patients with symptoms of urethral injuries after trauma underwent TRUS between January 2005 and July 2008. Of them, 28 patients with operative indications undertook operation; the other 2 received conservative management and then a follow-up ultrasonography. All outcomes were used to validate the results of TRUS.


RESULTS
Urethral injuries were clearly observed in 30 cases with TRUS. The continuity of urethral wall, unblocking of urethral lumen, and homogeneous echo of surrounding structures had been changed. Urethral injuries varied in types, including urethrovaginal fistula, urethral stricture, urethral rupture, and urethral hematoma. It was common to find several injury patterns simultaneously in 1 patient. The outcomes in 28 cases with operative indications were consistent with results of surgery. The other 2 cases were diagnosed as urethral hematoma by TRUS which disappeared in a follow-up sonography after 3 months' conservative management.


CONCLUSIONS
TRUS is a reliable technique to exhibit abnormalities in injured urethra associated with trauma in female.
Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Tao
T
Ying
Qin
Q
Li
Chunjuan
C
Shao
Zhaoling
Z
Zhu
Liang
L
Feng
Bing
B
Hu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012007:Rectum; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult