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Your Kidneys are located deep in your abdomen and protected by your back muscles and rib cage. Common causes of kidney injuries often come due to a personal injury accident such as blunt trauma, which often occurs after a road traffic accident. Sports injury can also cause blunt trauma to your kidneys; activities such as; football, hockey, rugby, biking, horseback riding and ice skating.

Symptoms of injury to your kidney usually include the folding:

• Blood in urine/inability to urinate
• Abdominal pain/swelling
• Broken ribs/bruising
• Nausea and vomiting
• Low blood pressure/heart pounding fast
• Fever
• Decreased alertness
• Pale skin
• Sweating

A CT scan will normally determine the damage sustained to your kidney. The treatment you will receive for a damaged kidney depends on whether your injury is minor or severe. In the case of minor damage pain killers are normally prescribed and you’re advised to rest. In more severe cases where there is excessive bleeding surgery may be required to stop bleeding, repair and even save the kidney. In some cases however the kidney might be so badly damaged that part of it will have to be removed.

Kidneys are highly vascular organs meaning they have a large blood supply. Each kidney filters about 1700 litres of blood per day and concentrates fluid/waste products into about one litre of urine a day.

As well as trauma; toxic damage can cause injury to your kidney. Exposure to lead, solvents, cleaning products, fuels and other chemicals can cause kidney damage without proper protection and ventilation.

The outcome and degree of damage to your kidney depends on the cause and extent of injury. The damage may be mild and reversible, it may be immediately life-threatening, or it may be prolonged and result in complications.

If you have been involved in an accident that has left you with damage to your kidneys you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. It is advised that you seek immediate medical help; even if your injury is only minor as there will be a medical record of your injury, making the chance of success in a personal injury claim greater. For more information and advise about claiming get in touch with Accident Consult today.