Stab wounds of the kidney: conservative management in flank penetration.

Between April 1976 and December 1980, 373 patients with stab wounds of the abdomen were seen in our emergency room. Of 47 cases (12.6 per cent) in which renal penetration was confirmed nonoperative management was selected in 34 (70.2 per cent), with no further sequelae in 28 (82 per cent). The site of abdominal penetration was posterior to the anterior axillary line in 30 successful conservatively managed patients (88 per cent). The site of abdominal wound penetration in conjunction with clinical stability may avoid unnecessary renal explorations.