Clinical Spectrum of Flank Pain and ITS Association with Urolithiasis

Abstract

Introduction: Flank pain is one of the most painful and it is one of the most common presentation in surgical outpatient
department (OPD) inpatient of pain abdomen, its incidence has increased considerably during century Management of patients
suspected for renal colic is often delayed in the emergency, because of time consuming laboratory examinations.
Aims and Objectives: The aim was to determine the clinical spectrum of fl ank pain and its association with urolithiasis, to fi nd
appropriate diagnostic modality for fl ank pain to exclude extra urinary causes requiring emergency interventions.
Methodology: A total of hundred patients of fl ank pain were studied prospectively. Patients are suffering from fl ank pain, coming
to the OPD of general surgery, Orthopedics and obstetrics and gynecology over a period 12 months.
Result: 54 patients presented with renal pathology in hundred patients of fl ank pain out of which 47 had urolithiasis and seven
had renal problems such as renal abscess, renal tuberculosis and pelvic-ureteric junction obstruction. By chi-square test
application, statistically highly signifi cant association (P = 0.0000) was seen between fl ank pain and urolithiasis. Main renal
pathology causing fl ank pain was renal calculi 47% in my study. Among the urinary complaints most common complaints were of
burning micturition. In my study second most common cause of fl ank pain, was spinal pathology 32%. X-ray showed a sensitivity
of 83% in diagnosing urolithiasis in patients of fl ank pain. Ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 91% in diagnosing urolithiasis
while intravenous urogram was sensitive in 100% cases. Computed tomography was shown to have a sensitivity of 94-100%.
Conclusion: Urolithiasis constituted maximum number of fl ank pain patients, most patients presented with burning micturition
which shows the presence of infection. Second most common cause of fl ank pain was spinal pathology while other pathology
like related with abdominal, ovarian and other also contributes in few patients.