Symptoms
Due to the blunt force applied, which is usually responsible for the kidney contusion, the symptoms are diverse and sometimes relatively unspecific. After an injury or an accident, the symptoms do not have to appear immediately but can also appear with a slight delay. In all cases a severe pain in the flank is described.
The quality of the pain is often described as a dull, drilling or even a stabbing pain. This is localized laterally at the back approximately on height of the navel. It is possible that the pain radiates further into the abdomen and back.
It is therefore not uncommon for patients to come to the clinic and report severe back pain and tension. This does not mean that one should immediately suspect a kidney bruise in the case of back pain, only if a previous event such as a fall or a violent blow to the back or side has occurred, back pain can be an expression of a kidney bruise. This pain can also be caused by cramps, since in the case of a kidney bruise, back muscles can cramp due to the tight network of nerve plexuses.
Hematomas, i.e. bruises, are visible on the surface of the body, which can be accompanied by swelling of the tissue. The most important groundbreaking symptom in the diagnosis of kidney contusion is hematuria, which translated means blood in the urine and can occur in two forms: Macro- and microhaematuria. Macro-haematuria is the presence of intact red blood cells in the urine and the affected person can see a red discoloration with the naked eye.
Micro-haematuria, on the other hand, tends not to stain the urine, as it is made up of destroyed red blood cells that have lost their characteristic color in the form in which they now exist. It is important to know that urine of normal color does not rule out bleeding from the kidneys.However, this symptom occurs in a variety of diseases and is therefore not specifically attributable to kidney contusion. Hematuria can also occur with urinary tract infections or urinary stones.
There is also no connection between the extent of hematuria and the severity of the injury. Nevertheless, observation of hematuria is an important criterion for the treating physician during treatment. Another symptom reported in connection with kidney contusion is nausea, which is accompanied by vomiting only in the further course of the treatment.
If the symptoms are moderate, one can go to bed at home. However, one should definitely pay attention to the course of the symptoms. If they get worse or remain constant for a long time, a doctor must be consulted.
50% of kidney injuries are caused by blunt force, i.e. large and broad forces act on one part of the body. In this case, the force must hit the back from the side from behind, since this is where the kidneys are located directly. A blow to the flank can also cause a kidney contusion.
However, this force must be considerable, because a kidney contusion is a rather rare injury. Typical situations where this constellation is given are accidents and situations in contact sports. Physical injury is also on the list of possible causes, although not at the top of the list. A fall from a certain height also carries the risk of this injury. In the context of a blunt abdominal trauma with a violent impact of force from the front, kidney contusions can occur, but in these cases the kidney is usually damaged beyond the degree of a kidney contusion and requires a completely different approach.
