Spectrum and Age Distribution of Selected Urological Emergencies in A Tertiary Emergency Center: A Two-Year Retrospective Study from Kosovo

Abstract

Author(s): Donat Cuni, Flatra Fetahu, Xhevdet Cuni*

Background: Urological emergencies are time-critical disorders in which the diagnostic pathway must rapidly distinguish ischemic, traumatic, infectious, and obstructive conditions. Diagnostic imaging can define the location and extent of injury, identify complications, and support treatment planning when imaging is clinically appropriate.

Objective: To describe the frequency and age distribution of selected urological emergencies treated at a tertiary emergency center in Prishtina, Kosovo, and to examine how the observed age patterns inform the selection and timing of diagnostic imaging within multidisciplinary emergency care.

Materials and methods: This retrospective descriptive study included selected urological emergencies managed at the Surgical Emergency Unit of the Emergency Center, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, from January 2022 through December 2023. Among 89 accident-related injury presentations, 12 patients had associated urological trauma. During the same period, 16 patients with Fournier’s gangrene and 10 with testicular torsion were identified. Frequencies and age ranges were summarized by diagnostic category. Because individual-level data were incomplete, no inferential statistical analysis was performed.

Results: Urological trauma was identified in 12 of 89 accident-related injuries (13.5%). Renal injuries requiring nephrectomy accounted for 5 cases (41.7%), urinary bladder avulsion for 3 (25.0%), testicular trauma for 2 (16.7%), and retroperitoneal hematoma for 2 (16.7%). Fournier’s gangrene occurred in 16 patients aged 41–72 years, whereas testicular torsion occurred in 10 patients aged 9–16 years. The selected emergencies comprised 38 patients overall.

Conclusions: The diagnostic categories demonstrated distinct age distributions, with testicular torsion concentrated in children and adolescents and Fournier’s gangrene occurring in older adults. The findings support age-adapted diagnostic pathways in which clinically indicated imaging is integrated with rapid specialist assessment and definitive treatment. The study provides descriptive evidence relevant to emergency radiological triage and multidisciplinary urological care, but it does not evaluate radiotherapy or oncological treatment.

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