How can the urethra be damaged

These scars can slow or block the flow of urine from the penis. Trauma to the posterior urethra almost always results from a severe injury. In males, posterior urethral trauma may tear the urethra completely away below the prostate.

These wounds can form scar tissue that slows or blocks the urine flow. For females, urethral injuries are rare. They're always linked to pelvic fractures or cuts, tears, or direct trauma to the body near the vagina.

See More See Less. The urethra is a tube-like organ that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. In males, the urethra starts at the bladder and runs through the prostate gland, perineum the space between the scrotum and the anus , and through the penis. The anterior "front" urethra goes from the tip of the penis through the perineum. The posterior "back" urethra is the part deep within the body.

In females, the urethra is much shorter: it runs from the bladder to just in front of the vagina. It opens outside the body. Normal urine flow is painless and can be controlled.

The stream is strong and the urine is clear with no visible blood. For males, the most common sign of a problem is blood — even a drop — at the tip of the penis. Swelling and bruising of the penis, scrotum, and perineum may also occur, along with pain in that area. Trauma to the anterior urethra can be caused by straddle injuries—coming down hard on something between your legs, such as a bicycle seat or crossbar, a fence, or playground equipment. Your health care provider may try to pass a tube "catheter" through your urethra.

Not being able to pass a tube into the urethra is the first sign of urethral injury. An x-ray is done after squirting a special dye into the urethra. The dye is used to be seen on an x-ray. X-rays are taken to see if any of the dye leaks out of the urethra inside your body. An x-ray of the urethra is often done after a pelvic fracture, because urethral injury is common in these cases about 1 in 10 cases. The treatment for urethral trauma depends on where and how bad the injury is.

Many cases of anterior urethral injury need to be fixed right away with surgery. Minor of these injuries can be treated with a catheter through the urethra into the bladder. This keeps urine from touching the urethra so it can mend. The catheter is often left in place for 14 to 21 days.

After that time, an x-ray is taken to see if the injury has healed. Bruising may be visible between the legs or in the genitals. Other symptoms may arise when complications develop. For example, if urine leaks into surrounding tissues, infection may result. In addition, the injury may cause the urethra to narrow stricture Urethral Stricture A urethral stricture is scarring that narrows the urethra.

A urethral stricture may be Present from birth Develop after an infection or injury A urethral stricture most commonly results from Men may also experience impairment in the ability to have an erection erectile dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction ED Erectile dysfunction ED is the inability to attain or sustain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. In men, the diagnosis of a urethral injury is usually confirmed by retrograde urethrography, an x-ray taken after a radiopaque contrast agent, a liquid that is visible on x-rays, is put directly into the end of the urethra.

Retrograde urethrography is done before a catheter is passed through the urethra into the bladder. In women, a flexible endoscope is used to examine the lining of the bladder and the urethra cystoscopy Cystoscopy A doctor can diagnose some disorders of the bladder and urethra for example, bladder tumors, stones in the bladder, benign prostatic enlargement by looking through a flexible viewing tube For urethral bruises that do not result in any leakage of urine, a doctor can place a catheter through the urethra into the bladder for several days to drain the urine while the urethra heals.

For urethral tears, the urine should be diverted from the urethra using a catheter placed directly into the bladder through the skin over the lower abdomen. The urethra is repaired surgically after all other injuries have healed or after 8 to 12 weeks when inflammation has resolved. Rarely, urethral tears heal without surgery. Treatment helps to prevent some complications of urethral injuries.

Complications that cannot be prevented are treated accordingly. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

An exam of the genitals may show injury to the urethra. If the health care provider suspects an injury, you may have the following tests:. A catheter may be inserted once an injury of the urethra has been ruled out. This is a tube that drains urine from the body. An x-ray of the bladder using dye to highlight any damage can then be done.

Emergency surgery may be done to repair the injury and drain the urine from the abdominal cavity in case of extensive injury or peritonitis inflammation of the abdominal cavity.

The injury can be repaired with surgery in most cases. The bladder may be drained by a catheter through the urethra or the abdominal wall called a suprapubic tube over a period of days to weeks.

This will prevent urine from building up in the bladder. It will also allow the injured bladder or urethra to heal and prevent swelling in the urethra from blocking urine flow. If the urethra has been cut, a urological specialist can try to put a catheter in place. If this cannot be done, a tube will be inserted through the abdominal wall directly into the bladder.

This is called a suprapubic tube. It will be left in place until the swelling goes away and the urethra can be repaired with surgery. This takes 3 to 6 months. Injury of the bladder and urethra due to trauma can be minor or fatal. Short- or long-term serious complications can occur. Call the local emergency number or go to the emergency room if you have an injury to the bladder or urethra.

Upper urinary tract trauma. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Shewakramani SN. Genitourinary system. Reviewed by: Kelly L.