What are non-penetrating injuries to the kidneys, ureters, or bladder?
• Non-penetrating injuries are also called blunt injuries. Blunt injuries are those that result from a direct blow to the abdomen or lower back area without an open wound. Blunt injuries to the kidneys, ureters, or bladder may include a tear, cut, or bruise to the organ. These injuries may lead to internal bleeding due to the organ rupturing (bursting) or blood vessel problems. • The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that remove unwanted chemicals and waste from your blood. These wastes are turned into urine by the kidneys. There is one kidney located on each side of the spine (backbone) in the back of your abdomen. The ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, round organ that holds urine. It is small when empty and lies behind the pelvic bone in the front of the abdomen. When the bladder is full, it becomes round and it goes up into the lower part of the abdomen. Among the three, the kidneys are the most commonly injured.
