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Bladder injury may not be the most common trauma we encounter during surgery residency, but it should never be overlooked. More often than not, it shows up as an associated injury—especially in cases of pelvic fractures or major abdominal trauma. The danger lies in missing the diagnosis, because delayed recognition can lead to serious complications for the patient.
That’s why understanding bladder injury is so important for every surgical resident. In this blog, we’ll walk through the causes, relevant anatomy, mechanisms of injury, and the principles of surgical management—so that you can approach it with confidence when it comes up in real practice.
Introduction:
Bladder injuries are broadly divided into two categories:
- Extraperitoneal bladder injuries are most typically caused by pelvic fractures.
- Intraperitoneal bladder injuries – typically due to high-energy trauma to a distended bladder, e.g., a direct blow to the lower abdomen.
Whilst extraperitoneal injuries may be treated with an indwelling catheter, intraperitoneal and complex injuries will typically need surgical repair.
Causes of Bladder Injury
The causes are divided into three broad categories:
- Polytrauma and Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs)
- Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause.
- Pelvic fractures associated with the same are frequent.
- Violent Crimes & Blunt Trauma
- Punches, kicks, or assault to a full bladder.
- Early presentation is usually seen in cases of domestic violence or assaults at work.
- Iatrogenic Causes
- Bladder injury during surgeries, especially obstetric and gynecological procedures.
- In complicated C-sections, bladder injury can happen because of its close proximity to the pregnant uterus.
- Incidence: approximately 13.8 per 1000 obstetric/gynecological operations (study series dependent).
Notably, iatrogenic bladder injuries constitute a high percentage of total bladder injuries, testifying to the need for surgical care.
Mechanisms of Bladder Trauma
Bladder injury results from blunt trauma or penetrating trauma.
- Blunt Trauma
- Example: Full bladder hit during a fall, accident, or kick.
- Frequently causes intraperitoneal rupture.
- Pelvic fractures may also lead to extraperitoneal rupture due to bone fragments.
- Penetrating Trauma
- Responsible for almost 51% of bladder injuries in certain studies.
- Due to sharp pelvic bone spicules or penetrating objects.
- Incidence
- Bladder trauma is responsible for approximately 1.6% of blunt abdominopelvic injuries.
- Although relatively uncommon, its associated nature renders intent-based evaluation mandatory.
Anatomy of the Bladder – Why It Matters
Knowing the anatomy of the bladder helps one comprehend the mechanism of injury.
- The dome of the Bladder is invested by the peritoneum → more susceptible to intraperitoneal ruptures on a full bladder.
- Anterior Wall and Neck are extra-peritoneal and intimately connected to the pubic symphysis and ligaments of the pelvis → susceptible in pelvic fractures.
- In women, the utero-vesical pouch and in men, the recto-vesical pouch, indicate the relationship of the bladder with the peritoneum and adjacent structures.
This anatomy accounts for why pelvic trauma usually results in extraperitoneal bladder injuries, whereas direct trauma to a distended bladder results in intraperitoneal rupture.
Pathophysiology of Bladder Injuries
The bladder can be injured in three primary manners:
- Deceleration Injuries – brusque halt of the body (e.g., in RTAs) while the bladder keeps moving.
- Inertia Injuries – kinetic impact of urine within the bladder leading to internal pressure fluctuations.
- Direct Pelvic Fragment Injury – displaced fractures penetrating the wall of the bladder.
Types of Rupture
- Extraperitoneal Rupture: Usually seen in pelvic fractures, treated conservatively by catheter drainage.
- Intraperitoneal Rupture: Due to blunt injury to a distended bladder → needs surgical intervention.
Complications can be leakage of urine into the peritoneum, electrolyte disturbances, and risk of sepsis if not treated early.
Surgical Treatment of Bladder Injury
- Extraperitoneal Bladder Injury
- Typically treated with a 10–14-day indwelling catheterisation.
- Surgery is reserved for complicated or refractory cases.
- Intraperitoneal Bladder Injury
- Needs surgical repair through laparotomy.
- The bladder is closed in layers for watertight closure.
- Iatrogenic Bladder Injury
- Found intraoperatively and repaired immediately.
- If diagnosed late post-operatively, treated based on severity and site.
Key Takeaways for Surgery Residents
- Always consider bladder injury in polytrauma and pelvic fractures.
- Understand the distinction between intraperitoneal vs. extraperitoneal injuries—management varies.
- Never underestimate iatrogenic bladder injuries in pelvic or obstetric surgeries.
- Early recognition and management are paramount to prevent complications such as sepsis, electrolyte disturbance, and the formation of fistula.
Conclusion:
Bladder trauma, although not very rare, is of significant clinical importance because of its correlation with pelvic fractures and abdominal injuries. Every surgery resident should have a clear knowledge of bladder anatomy, the mechanism of injury, and principles of surgery.
At Conceptual Surgery, we focus on developing not only knowledge but also surgical judgment so that you can handle such injuries with confidence during residency and after.
