Non-operative management of extra-peritoneal rupture of the urinary bladder in a tetraplegic patient.

A 65-year-old male sustained a cervical spine injury and simultaneous extraperitoneal rupture of the urinary bladder. Because of co-existent severely impaired respiratory function the vesical rupture was managed conservatively and bladder drainage was provided by a 24 Fr. indwelling urethral catheter. Serial cystograms performed at 4, 7 and 9 weeks post-injury showed complete healing by 63 days. We suggest that non-operative management of vesical rupture should be considered in selected patients with associated serious other body system involvement.