ABSTRACT
Traumatic urethral injuries are uncommon and often require a high index of suspicion particularly in the severely injured patient. Proximal vesicle urinary diversion is often performed in the acutely ill trauma patient to allow for accurate urinary output monitoring and resuscitation. Immediate surgical repair can be technically difficult and should be limited to those patients who sustain penetrating urethral trauma and who are hemodynamically stable. The mechanism and location of injury dictate the acute management. Posterior urethral injuries are often associated with major abdominal and/or pelvic fractures that can be life-threatening and demand immediate attention and resuscitation. Anterior urethral injuries are usually the result of direct trauma to the urethra, with few associated injuries, and are of lower acuity.
