Emergency #11 – Long case

 X-ray: Bilateral pelvis fractures discontinuity iliopectineal line most clearly left-sided

CT: Bilateral ramus superior/anterior iliac bone and ramus inferior pubic bone
Avulsion fracture symphysis pubis
Fracture sacrum on the right

Look also in soft-tissue setting!

Large hematoma posterior of symphysis pubis around urethra and perineum, lateral around the pelvic floor obturator internus muscles and cranially in the retroperitoneal Retzius space anterior of the bladder

Do a RUG: Retrograde Urethrogram. If intact, followed by CT Cystography

RUG shows contrast extravasation and complete rupture of anterior bulbous part of urethra, grade V isolated anterior injury. However, the rupture might be at the anatomic weak point, the bulbomembranous junction, meaning avulsion of the puboprostatic ligament and stretching of the membranous urethra. There is no contrast above the urogenital diaphragm (level of symphysis pubis). Contrast in the bladder is a residue from the IV contrast given for earlier total body CT.

Goldman classification urethral injury

Anterior urethra = Penile and bulbous part
Posterior urethra = Membranous and prostatic part

• Type I: stretching the posterior urethra due to disruption of puboprostatic ligaments and hematoma, but urethra is intact
• Type II: posterior urethral injury above urogenital diaphragm (between ischiopubic rami)
• Type III: injury to membranous urethra, extending into the proximal bulbous urethra (i.e. with laceration of the urogenital diaphragm), thus contrast extravasation below diaphragm
• Type IV: bladder base injury involving bladder neck and proximal urethra—internal sphincter is injured, hence the potential for incontinence
• Type IVa: bladder base injury, not involving bladder neck (cannot be differentiated from type IV radiologically)
• Type V: anterior urethral injury (isolated)

* In this case, no CT cystography was performed
* Patient was treated conservatively