Abstract / Summary
Blunt renal trauma accounts for the majority of renal injuries in the pediatric population, and organ-preserving management has become the preferred approach in hemodynamically stable patients. However, clinical data focusing specifically on isolated blunt renal trauma in children remain limited. In this retrospective cohort study, 28 pediatric patients (<18 years) diagnosed with isolated blunt renal trauma between January 2021 and June 2024 were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, injury mechanisms, trauma grade, treatment approaches, transfusion requirements, and hospitalization duration were analyzed. Renal injuries were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma system. Patients were followed at 1, 3, and 12 months after discharge to assess clinical and functional outcomes. The mean patient age was 9.42 ± 3.31 years, and 60.7% were male. Low-grade renal injuries (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma I–III) were observed in 71.4% of patients. Conservative management was applied in 75% of cases, while minimally invasive interventions, including Double J Stent placement and selective angioembolization, were performed in selected patients. Surgical exploration and nephrectomy were required in 7.1% of patients. No mortality occurred. Hemoglobin and creatinine levels remained stable during follow-up, and no patient developed persistent hypertension. High-grade injuries were associated with significantly higher transfusion requirements and intervention rates. In this retrospective single-center cohort of pediatric patients with isolated blunt renal trauma, conservative management was associated with favorable clinical and functional outcomes. A patient-centered approach guided by hemodynamic stability with selective use of minimally invasive interventions when clinically indicated may help preserve renal function while reducing the need for surgical treatment. However, these findings should be interpreted in light of the retrospective study design and the relatively small sample size.