Treatment of posterior urethral distractions defects following pelvic fracture

Posterior urethral injuries typically arise in the context of a pelvic fracture. Retrograde urethrography is the preferred diagnostic test in trauma patients with pelvic fracture where a posterior urethral rupture is suspected. Pelvic fractures however preclude the adequate positioning of the patient on the X-ray table on admission and computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast and delayed films generally performed first. Suprapubic bladder catheter placement under ultrasound guidance should be performed whenever a posterior urethral disruption is suspected. Early diagnosis and proper acute management decrease the associated complications, such as strictures, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The correct and appropriate initial treatment of associated urethral rupture is critical to the proper healing of the injury. Placing of a suprapubic cystostomy on admission and delayed anastomotic urethroplasty after 3–6 months continues to be the gold standard of treatment. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature with a special emphasis on the various treatments available: Open or endoscopic primary realignment, immediate or delayed urethroplasty after suprapubic cystostomy, and delayed optical urethrotomy.