Abstract

Background
Whether adequate renal function is preserved or not is an important factor in conservative management of patients with renal trauma. A99 mtechnetium dimercapto-succinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) scan is useful for radionuclide scintigraphy to evaluate the renal function quartitatively. Methods : Forty-five (45) patients with renal injury who had undergone conservative treatment had their relative renal functions estimated by using a 99mTc-DMSA renal scan 2 months following successful management. Results: Preservation of renal function was considered adequate if more than a third of the injured kidney had been preserved. Associated organ injury was present in 13 (29%) patients, and the mean injury severity score (ISS) was 13. On the injury side, the mean relative renal function according to the degree of renal injury was 90.2% in grade 1, 84.3% in grade 2, 73.7% in grade 3, and 52.1% in grade 4. In 16 (100%) of the 16 patients with minor renal injury and 25 (86%) of the 29 patients with major renal injury, adequate renal function had been preserved. Conclusions: This study shows that conservative management of renal trauma, including grade-3 and 4 major injury, is effective and that a high correlation is present between the degree of renal injury and the relative renal function. A longer follow up is needed to confirm these results.

• Keywords: Kidney, Injury, DMSA renal scan, Relative renal function