What is Straddle Injuries

Straddle Injuries are injuries to the crotch area that occurs when a person falls while standing over or straddling an object. The area injured can involve the soft tissues, external genitalia, urinary organs, or rectum.

Straddle injuries may result in a simple bruise (contusion) or scrape (abrasion). They can also cause more serious damage to the genitals, urinary tract, or bones in the pelvis.

Straddle injuries occur in both males and females. These injuries are more common in children.

What are the causes?

This type of injury may be caused by:

• Blunt trauma, such as landing on a bicycle crossbar, a fence, or playground equipment.
• A penetrating injury, such as being impaled by a sharp object.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of injury and how severe it is. Common symptoms include:

• Pain between the legs or in the genital area.
• Blood at the tip of the penis in men or the urethra in women.
• Bruising between the legs or in the genital area.
• Swelling between the legs or in the genital area.
• Difficulty urinating.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• A physical exam.
• Your symptoms and medical history.
• Imaging tests, such as:
  • X-rays.
  • CT scan.
  • A specialized test to check for damage to the urinary tract (retrograde urethrography).

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on the location and severity of the injury. Treatment may include:

• Cold therapy to reduce swelling.
• Medicines for pain.
• A tube (suprapubic catheter) to drain urine from the bladder. This may be needed for more severe injuries, such as a damaged urethra or a pelvic bone fracture.
• For severe injuries, surgery may be done to:
  • Stop severe bleeding (hemorrhage).
  • Drain urine and blood.
  • Realign the urethra.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• If you are taking prescription pain medicine, take actions to prevent or treat constipation. Your health care provider may recommend that you:
  • Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
  • Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried or sweet foods.
  • Take an over-the-counter or prescription medicine for constipation.

Wound care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your wound. If your wound was covered with a bandage (dressing), make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Warmth.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If directed, apply ice to the injured area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day. Do this for the first 2 days after the injury, or as told by your health care provider.

General instructions

• Rest and limit your activity as told by your health care provider.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if you have:

• Signs of infection, which may include:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain around your wound.
  • More fluid or blood coming from your wound.
  • Warmth in or around your wound.
  • Pus or a bad smell coming from your wound.
  • A fever.
• Pain that is not relieved with medicine.
• Blood in your urine.

Get help right away if you have:

• Severe pain.
• Difficulty starting your urine, or inability to urinate.
• Pain while urinating.
• Shaking chills.

Summary

• A straddle injury is an injury to the crotch area that occurs when a person falls while straddling an object.
• The area injured can involve the soft tissues, external genitalia, urinary organs, or rectum.
• Common symptoms of this condition include pain, bleeding, bruising, and swelling in the genital area and difficulty urinating.
• Treatment depends on the type and location of the injury and how severe it is. Treatment may include cold therapy, pain medicine, a tube to drain urine, or surgery.