Renal exploration after trauma. Indications and reconstructive techniques.

Blunt traumatic renal injuries seldom (less than 10 per cent) require operation. Improved staging techniques such as CT have been responsible for the decrease in the number of renal explorations. Penetrating renal injuries from knife or gunshot wounds historically have mandated surgical exploration. This practice should be continued unless staging studies confirm that the degree of injury justifies expectant management. In the authors' experience, 42 per cent of stab wounds and 76 per cent of gunshot wounds have necessitated renal exploration.