Case report: Renal artery spasm can mimic grade 5 renal injury following pediatric blunt trauma

Abstract

Tiffany Perkins, Dennis Peppas, Eran Rosenberg

Children are more likely to be exposed to blunt trauma-induced kidney damage due to the lack of perirenal adipose tissue, weakness in the abdominal muscles, and less ossified thoracic cage. Grade 5 renal injury may be an indication for urgent surgical intervention. Here, we describe a case of pediatric blunt trauma with initial computerized tomography (CT) scan demonstrating complete renal devascularization suggestive of grade 5 renal injury. However, subsequent imaging demonstrated normal vascularization of the kidney. Renal artery spasm was likely the cause for the initial CT findings, which mimicked a grade 5 renal injury.