Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Trauma-Induced Hemolysis: The Need for Increased Awareness and a Preventative Strategy

In 2011, Vasudev et al1 coined the term “percussion hemoglobinuria” in reference to hand trauma–induced mechanical hemolysis in patients participating in traditional African hand drumming. Acute kidney injury (AKI) usually occurs from hemoglobinuria as a combination of tubular obstruction, direct tubular cell toxicity, and vasoconstriction.2