Beyond the Stitched Wound: A Case of Left Renal Repair in Penetrating Back Trauma

Stab wounds over the posterior abdomen are particularly concerning because they may traverse the retroperitoneum and involve vital structures such as the kidneys, ureters, pancreas and adrenal major vessels, and bowel. Renal trauma constitutes approximately 1–5% of all trauma cases, and penetrating mechanisms, though less common than blunt injuries, are associated with a higher likelihood of significant parenchymal disruption and urinary tract involvement. Management of renal trauma depends on the mechanism, hemodynamic stability, and grade of injury. While non-operative management has become the standard for many blunt renal injuries, penetrating renal trauma often requires surgical exploration due to potential vascular injury, collecting system disruption, or ongoing bleeding. Renorrhaphy, a kidney preserving technique, is preferred whenever feasible to maintain renal function and avoid nephrectomy, especially in young patients. This report describes the case of a 28-year-old male who presented with a stitched stab wound over the left back and subsequent abdominal tenderness, prompting emergency exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings revealed a left renal laceration that was successfully repaired with left renoraphy.