title: [Experience of open renal trauma in a urology service].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opened renal trauma in urban areas reaches 15 to 20% of all renal traumas. It is mainly caused by gunshot wounds or knifes. Gunshot wounds are classified as high energy trauma and are usually associated to other organ injuries. We present our experience in opened renal trauma in the last 24 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study: patients with thoracic, abdominal and thoraco-abdominal trauma admitted to the emergency room between July 2009 and June 2011 were studied. Fourteen patients were identified with opened renal trauma, with diagnostic confirmation by imaging study or during surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ages ranged from 16 to 37 years, with a mean age of 24.5 years. Thirteen patients were males. The mechanism of injury was produced by gunshot in 71% (10/14) and by knife in 29% (4/14). The opened renal traumas were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Of these, 3/14 (21%) belonged to grade II, 4/14 (29%) to grade III, 4/14 (29%) to grade IV and 3/14 to grade V (21%). Fall in hematocrit ranged from 1% to 27%, with an average of 13.9%. Expectant management was done in six patients, however, this management did not take into account those surgeries performed due to non-urologic organ injuries. Six patients (42%) required nephrectomy. Thoraco-abdominal injuries were associated in 11 patients (79%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the low incidence of opened renal trauma, many patients are observed when other national reports are considered, probably due to the socio-cultural characteristics of this hospital.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago de Chile, Chile. cristobalbettancourt@gmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bettancourt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Storme
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Barroso
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D009392:Nephrectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014573:Urology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult