Management of the ruptured bladder secondary to blunt abdominal trauma.

During a 4-year 9-month interval 51 patients were seen with ruptured bladders. Of these patients 42 had suffered blunt trauma: 19 intraperitoneal, 22 extraperitoneal and 1 combined intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal injury. All patients with intraperitoneal injuries, 5 with extraperitoneal injuries and the 1 with combined injury were treated successfully by exploration, débridement, formal closure and catheter drainage. Of the patients with extraperitoneal injuries 16 were treated successfully by catheter drainage alone.