Demographics, Complications, and Management of Genitourinary Gunshot Wounds: National Trauma Data Bank Analysis

Urology. 2025 May 12:S0090-4295(25)00433-9. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2025.05.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the national prevalence and in-hospital outcomes of genitourinary-related (kidney, ureteral, bladder, urethral, penile, genital) gunshot wounds.

METHODS: Genitourinary-related gunshot wound (GSW-GU) encounters were identified in the 2007-2021 National Trauma Data Bank using AIS-05 and ICD-9/10 codes. The primary aim of this study was to report genitourinary-related gunshot wound injury location, patient demographics, surgical management, and complications. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze if injury severity score, age, sex, and race were associated with in-hospital complications.

RESULTS: There were 10,734 GSW-GU encounters, primarily involving young, male, non-Hispanic, and black individuals, with most common cause being assault. Kidney (49.6%) and bladder (16.6%) were the most frequently injured locations. 7,820 GSW-GU patients (72.9%) were taken directly to the operating room. In-hospital complications occurred in 14.1% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Genitourinary-related gunshot wounds disproportionately affect young males, with many injuries resulting from assaults. This pattern underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the underlying causes of gun violence. GSW-GU patients are often taken directly to the operating room, likely due to hemodynamic instability and concomitant injuries to surrounding abdominal structures.

PMID:40368217 | DOI:10.1016/j.urology.2025.05.006