Question

What is NOT true in a case of urethral injury?

• A. Rare in women
• B. Immediate catheterisation is indicated
• C. Posterior urethral injury occurs in fracture of the pelvis
• D. Blood at the urinary meatus is diagnostic

Hint:

Think about what should be done first when blood is seen at the meatus after trauma.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The question asks which statement about urethral injury is false. Let's check each one against standard trauma teaching.

1. Rare in women: true. The female urethra is short and shielded by the pelvis, so injury is uncommon.
2. Immediate catheterisation is indicated: false. Passing a catheter before checking the urethra can turn a partial tear into a full tear or create a false tract. A retrograde urethrogram must come first.
3. Posterior urethral injury occurs in fracture pelvis: true. The posterior urethra is fixed in place, so a pelvic fracture with symphysis disruption can shear it.
4. Blood at the urinary meatus is diagnostic: true. It is the most trusted bedside sign of urethral trauma and should stop anyone from passing a catheter blindly.

Since three statements match accepted teaching and only "immediate catheterisation is indicated" goes against it (catheterisation should be delayed until imaging confirms the urethra is intact), that is the false statement.

Let's summarize:

• Blood at the meatus should prompt a urethrogram, not a catheter.
• Posterior urethral tears are a known pelvic fracture complication.

The correct answer is that immediate catheterisation is indicated, since that claim is false.