[Closed traumatic ruptures of the normal upper urinary tract].

In the context of urinary tract trauma, closed rupture of the upper urinary tract is rare, although not exceptional. It usually occurs in the region of the pyelo-ureteric junction and more often on the right side. It is more common in children, especially in boys. The diagnosis is often delayed and only made after the appearance of a urinary pseudocyst. The diagnosis depends on intravenous pyelography, ultrasound and retrograde uretero-pyelography, which should only be performed immediately prior to the operation. In the great majority of cases, the urinary tract can be simply repaired by a uretero-ureteral or ureteropyelic anastomosis, or more rarely, a ureterocalyceal anastomosis. The indications for autotransplantation are exceptional and are essentially based on the associated lesions, especially of the renal vascular pedicle. The results are very encouraging; a review of the literature reveals 64 cases of ruptured upper urinary tract whose outcome was able to be followed: 10 nephrectomies (only 3 followed failure of attempted reparative surgery) and 54 salvaged kidneys. Great progress has been made since Bienayme's report in 1962 of 40 cases in which he found only 4 successful repairs.