Therapy
After the injury you should rest and possibly cool down with light pressure from the outside. Any physical activity should be avoided and the doctor should be consulted. This can be memorized with the well known PECH rule for muscle and joint injuries.
PECH stands for rest, ice, compression and high support.Due to the location of the kidneys, elevating them does not make much sense here, but the other measures are also suitable for kidney contusion. It is also important to drink a lot of fluids to support the healing process. The guidelines for the treatment of kidney trauma state that a conservative therapy is always sufficient for the diagnosis of kidney contusion.
Surgical intervention is only indicated in cases of more severe trauma to the kidneys. Conservative in this case means bed rest for days or 1-2 weeks and sufficient pain medication with known active ingredients such as diclofenac or ibuprofen. Externally applied heat while showering or bathing can aggravate the pain and should be avoided.
In addition, heat promotes blood circulation, which is counterproductive in case of bruising. Normally, kidney contusion can be controlled until the symptoms subside and the injury is healed. In the course of the treatment, a control examination by ultrasound and a urine examination is recommended.
It is possible that an inpatient admission for a few days is necessary to exclude more serious injuries. In most cases, however, a visit to the general practitioner or a specialist to whom a referral has been made is sufficient, who can prescribe painkillers after a diagnosis of kidney contusion. After about a week, another appointment is made to monitor the healing process.
Complications
A kidney contusion usually proceeds without complications. In rare cases, however, complications can arise in the course of a kidney contusion. Especially older or weakened people can be affected.
A possible complication is an inflammation of the renal pelvis or the urinary tract. The tissue irritated by the impact is temporarily weakened and thus more susceptible to inflammation. In some cases, the leaking blood can also promote inflammation, especially in weakened patients.
If fever occurs in addition to the existing symptoms of a kidney contusion, this requires more precise clarification. In most cases, a short course of antibiotics solves the problem. Post-bleeding can also occur, which is why the urine status should be checked in close monitoring, especially in this case.
