What error can lead to misdiagnosis in patients with signs of urethral injury?

Misdiagnosis in patients with signs of urethral injury can occur due to several critical oversights in management.

Ruling out an injury without imaging can lead to a significant risk of missing an actual injury. Imaging techniques such as a retrograde urethrogram (RUG) are essential in detecting the presence of injuries, especially when clinical signs suggest that there may be damage to the urethra.

Ignoring blood in the urethral meatus is another mistake that can directly contribute to misdiagnosis. The presence of blood in this region is a classic sign of potential urethral injury, and failing to assess this can lead to an underestimation of the injury's seriousness, missing the need for appropriate imaging or intervention.

Failure to perform a cystourethrogram further exacerbates the risk of misdiagnosis. This imaging study is instrumental in evaluating trauma to the urethra. Without it, clinicians may miss serious injuries, which can lead to complications such as extravasation of urine, stricture formation, or even complete disruption of the urethra.

These factors highlight the importance of a thorough evaluation, including appropriate imaging studies, in patients suspected of having a urethral injury. Therefore, the comprehensive nature of these errors