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Bimodal distribution of trauma-related acute kidney injury (TrAKI): A clinical review Cover

Bimodal distribution of trauma-related acute kidney injury (TrAKI): A clinical review

Open Access
|Jan 2026

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Potential risk factors of TrAKI in different timepoints of trauma treatment: Severe trauma triggers initial AKI due to hemorrhage, hypovolemia and hypoxia, resulting in renal hypoperfusion. After these, the second hit due to fluid resuscitation, massive transfusion, emergency abdominal surgery, abdominal compartment syndrome and diagnostic processes with nephrotoxic contrast agents could further deteriorate renal hypoperfusion, cause ischemia/reperfusion injury, oxidative stress and renal toxicity. The third hit, due to critical care treatment or late complications, may cause additional disorders resulting in renal function impairment. ACS: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, APACHE score: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, ER: Emergency Room, IAH: Intrabdominal Hypertension, ICU: Intensive Care Unit, SAPS score: Simplified Acute Physiology Score, SOFA score: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, TrAKI: Trauma related Acute Kidney Injury
Potential risk factors of TrAKI in different timepoints of trauma treatment: Severe trauma triggers initial AKI due to hemorrhage, hypovolemia and hypoxia, resulting in renal hypoperfusion. After these, the second hit due to fluid resuscitation, massive transfusion, emergency abdominal surgery, abdominal compartment syndrome and diagnostic processes with nephrotoxic contrast agents could further deteriorate renal hypoperfusion, cause ischemia/reperfusion injury, oxidative stress and renal toxicity. The third hit, due to critical care treatment or late complications, may cause additional disorders resulting in renal function impairment. ACS: Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, APACHE score: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, ER: Emergency Room, IAH: Intrabdominal Hypertension, ICU: Intensive Care Unit, SAPS score: Simplified Acute Physiology Score, SOFA score: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, TrAKI: Trauma related Acute Kidney Injury

Fig. 2.

Bimodal distribution of Trauma – related Acute Kidney Injury (TrAKI): In line with trimodal distribution of deaths in trauma (red lines) [3], a bimodal distribution of TrAKI is observed (yellow lines). A first peak occurs approximately at 48–72 hours after trauma (time 0), is referred as “Early AKI” and is a direct consequence of trauma itself as well as prehospital and upon admission in the hospital trauma management. A second peak occurs >7 days or week, is referred as “Late AKI” and it is related to critical care and the delayed complications of critical illness. The latter AKI may exist as long as 90 days, hence called AKD (Acute Kidney Disease) (continuous yellow line) or rarely even longer, hence called CKD (chronic kidney disease) (dashed yellow line).
Bimodal distribution of Trauma – related Acute Kidney Injury (TrAKI): In line with trimodal distribution of deaths in trauma (red lines) [3], a bimodal distribution of TrAKI is observed (yellow lines). A first peak occurs approximately at 48–72 hours after trauma (time 0), is referred as “Early AKI” and is a direct consequence of trauma itself as well as prehospital and upon admission in the hospital trauma management. A second peak occurs >7 days or week, is referred as “Late AKI” and it is related to critical care and the delayed complications of critical illness. The latter AKI may exist as long as 90 days, hence called AKD (Acute Kidney Disease) (continuous yellow line) or rarely even longer, hence called CKD (chronic kidney disease) (dashed yellow line).

Risk factors of TrAKI in different time points

Risk factorsInterventionPathophysiologic mechanism of TrAKIClinical and/or biochemical markers
Physical characteristicsOlder age, Male gender, African American, Obesity BMI
ComorbiditiesChronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes mellitus, Chronic hypertension, Chronic heart failure, Cirrhosis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Hematologic malignancyAntiplatelet drugs, APACHE II, III score SAPS II score, Charlson score
At hospital admissionAbdominal trauma, Pelvic trauma, Blunt and penetrating trauma, Renal trauma, Brain Injury Hemorrhagic shock, Hypovolemia, Hypoxia, Renal hypoperfusionTransportation time, ISS, NISS AIS, Admission lactate value, Minimum prehospital MAP, Maximal prehospital HR, Duration until trauma center admission, GCS
First 12-24 h (ER and OR treatment)Uncontrolled hemorrhage Renal hypoperfusion, Renal hypoxiaCoagulopathy, Hypoxemia, Hypothermia, Lactemia, Viscoelastic assays, Acidosis
Resuscitation processNumber of transfused units of PRBC, Fluid overload, Need for vasoconstrictivesI/R, Oxidative stress, Systematic inflammatory response
Diagnostic processIntravenous contrast agentsRenal toxicity
Damage control surgeryEmergency surgery, ACS, Fluid overload, Massive transfusionRenal hypoperfusion, Renal hypoxia, RM, Systematic inflammatory response
ICU admission (first 5 days – weeks)Illness severity SAPS II score, APACHE II or III score, SOFA score
ICU treatmentMechanical ventilationSystemic inflammatory response, Worsening IAHHypoxemia, Hypothermia, Lactemia, Acidosis, Coagulopathy, Viscoelastic assays
Vasoactive therapy (noradrenaline, vasopressin)Renal hypoperfusion
Fluid infusionI/R, Oxidative stress
Blood transfusion
Nephrotoxic drugs (diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, contrast media)Renal toxicity
ICU complicationsFluid overloadSystemic inflammatory response, Worsening IAHCK, Myoglobin, Urea, Creatinine, Diuresis, Acidosis, Lactemia, Electrolytic abnormalities, IAP values, AKI biomarkers (NGAL, L-FABP, IGFBP-7 and TIMP-2 etc)
RMIntrarenal vasoconstriction, Ischemic injury, Tubular obstruction, Oxidative injury, Renal inflammation
ACSRenal hypoperfusion
SepsisRenal hypoperfusion, Renal oxidative injury
Multiorgan dysfunction

Trauma-related AKI studies

Type of studyMaterialAKI incidenceDiagnostic criteriaTime to AKI diagnosisRRT requirementTotal mortalityDemographic/ComorbiditiesPrehospital risk factorsPre-ICU risk factorsICU risk factorsRenal outcome
Bagshaw SM et al, Ren Fail.2008;30:581–9 (ANZICS and APD). [12]Multi-center retrospective study (57 ICUs) (1/1/2000 – 31/12/2005)ICU only trauma patients (42.2% TBI)1711/9449 (18.1%)RIFLEWithin 24 hours after ICU admission in 36.1%Not mentioned16.7% AKI vs 7.8% non-AKIOlder age, Female sex, Pre-existed comorbiditiesDirect renal injury, Abdominal and pelvic injuryNeed for nephrectomyAPACHE II and III score, SepsisNot mentioned
Moore AM et al, Ren Fail. 2010;32(9):1060–1065.[18]2-center retrospective study (Trauma DataBase) (1/1/2008 – 31/12/2008)ICU only head trauma patients (GCS<13)19/207 (9.2%)RIFLEFirst 10 days of admissionNot mentioned42.1% AKI vs 18.1% non-AKIOlder ageLower GCS, APACHE III scoreNot mentionedNot mentionedNot mentioned
Bihorac A et al, Ann Surg. 2010;252(1):158–165.[10]Multicenter prospective cohort (Trauma-DataBase) (11/2003-3/2008)Trauma patients that live >24 h after injury253/982 (26%)RIFLEFirst 28 days of hospitalization, 68% within 48 hours11% RRT3 times higher in AKI patientsNot the ageLow body temperature, Not ISSLactate level, blood transfusionMOD score >350% didn’t have complete recovery in the first 28 days
Li N et al, Neurocrit Care. 2011;14(3):377–381.[14]Retrospective single center study (1/2007 – 5/2010)Only traumatic brain injury patients (GCS<8) with hospital stay>48 h31/136 (23%), 21/31 (68%) stage 1, 7/31 (22%) stage 2, 3/31 (10%) stage 3AKINWithin 7 days after brain injury0% RRT17/31 AKI (55%) vs 11/105 non-AKI (11%)AgeLower GCS, Higher TBI scoreTranstentorial herniationNot mentioned100% renal recovery among survivors
Shashaty MGS et al, J Crit Care 2012;27(5):496–504. [11]Single center prospective cohort study (10/2005 – 6/2009) Excluded only head traumaICU trauma patients147/400 (36.8%)AKINFirst 5 days from ER presentation, 53.1% on day 0–19/1471: 9.8% 2: 13.7% 3: 30.4% vs 3.8% in non-AKIAfrican American race, BMI>30, DiabetesAIS>4Blood transfusionISSNot mentioned
Podoll AS et al, PLoS One. 2013; 8(10):e7737. [1]Retrospective observational single center study (trauma database) (1/2009 – 3/2010) Excluded head trauma and burnsICU trauma patients in Texas Trauma Institute54/901 (6%), Stage 1: 85% 2: 11% 3: 4%AKINWithin 72 hours of admission10/54 (19%) RRT83/901 (9.2%) total mortality vs 16/54 (29.6%) AKI patients’ mortalityAgeAIS, Not ISSNot mentionedNot mentionedNot mentioned
Baitello AL et al, J Bras Nefrol. 2013; 35(2):127–131. [24]Retrospective observational study (7-8/2004)Severe trauma patients (ISS>16) admitted in hospital13/75 (17.3%)AKINWithin the first 3 days of admission1/13 (7.6%) RRT29.3% total mortality, 8/13 AKI mortalityNot age, Not genderHead injury (GCS<10), ISSHigher volume replacement, Not MAPNot nephrotoxic drugsNot mentioned
Skinner DL et al, Injury 2014;45(1):259–64. [25]Retrospective observational single center (3/2008 – 3/2011)ICU trauma patients102/666 (15%): 25% (25/102) I, 57% (58/102) FRIFLE criteria57% at the time of ICU admission39/102 (38%) RRT57% AKI group, 78.9% among renal injuryAge>50,ISS>45BE >-12, iv contrast administration, blunt traumaSOFA, RMNot mentioned
Ahmed M et al, Br J Neurosurg. 2015;29(4):544–548.[15]Retrospective observational study (1/4/2012 - 31/3/2013)Only TBI patients, that underwent surgery, survived and hospital discharged11/95 (11.6%): Stage 1: 7/11 (63.6%), 2: 3/11 (27.3%), 3: 1/11 (9.1%)AKIN81.8% within 5 days of admission0/11 RRTNo mortality (0%)Not significantly differentLower GCSHigher glucose, Larger volume of blood lossAminoglycoside therapy100% renal recovery
Elterman J et al, J Trauma Acute Surg 2015;79(4 Suppl 2):S171–4. [26]Retrospective cohort study (01/2010 – 11/2010)Only trauma US army, with CPK>5000 U/L79/318 (24.8%) with CPK>5000 U/L, AKI Stage I: 56/318 (17.6%) Stage 2: 3/318 (0.9%), Stage 3: 7/318 (2.2%)KDIGO 2012Not mentioned6/7 Stage 3 required RRTNot mentionedNot mentionedISS, Mechanism of injury, Transport timeMassive transfusion >10 PRBCNot mentionedNot mentioned
Eriksson M et al, J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015;79(3):407–12. [16]Single-center retrospective observational study (2/2007 – 9/2012)Only ICU trauma patients101/413 (24.9%) KDIGO stage 1: 59% 2: 13% 3: 28%KDIGO 20122–7 days of ICU admission27/101 (26%) CRRT, 6/101 IRRT26.2% vs 7.1%Male sex, Age, DiabetesISS score >40Massive transfusion, HES overloadShock, Sepsis,None of ICU survivors were dialysis dependent 1 year after trauma
Heegard KD et al, J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2015;78(5):988–93. [23]Data from 2 observational single-center studiesOnly trauma ICU patients (mainly males) (Afghanistan – US army)46/134 (34.3%) KDIGO stage 1: 25.4% 2: 3.7% 3: 5.2% (total: 34.3%)KDIGO 201280.5% the first 2 hospital daysNot mentionedAKI 21.7% vs non-AKI 2.3%Not the ageISS scoreLactate, Blood transfusionBlood transfusionNot mentioned
Stewart IJ et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;68(4):564–570. [27]Retrospective observational study (2/2002 – 2/2011)Only ICU trauma US service members, wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, transferred in Landstuhl, Germany474/3807 (12.5%), Stage 1: 9.8%, 2: 1.6%, 3: 1.1%KDIGO 2012Within 7 days14/474 RRT112/3807 (2.9%) in total died, 13.1% with AKI vs 1.5% without AKIAge, African American raceISS scoreShockShock, SepsisNot mentioned
Lai WH et al. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2016;24(1):136.[16]Retrospective study (1/1/2009 – 31/12/2014)All trauma patients admitted in hospital (Taiwan trauma registry)78/14504 (0,54%) general in trauma 45/2789 (2.1%) ICU trauma patientsKDIGO 2012Within 24 hours3/78 (3.8%) RRTNot mentionedAge, Diabetes, Hypertension, Coronary artery diseaseISS score, Shock, GCS<8, Longer transport timeShock, Intracerebral hemorrhage,ShockNot mentioned
Haines RW et al, Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3665. [28]Single-center retrospective observational study (2/2012 – 31/10/2014)Only trauma ICU patients163/830 (19.6%)KDIGO 2012Within 7 days (median time 2.7 days)42/830 (5.1%)53/163 (32.5%) vs 103/667 (15.4%)Age, Charlson scoreNISS score, ISS score, Abdominal or pelvic trauma, ER SBP, ER lactate, PRBC’s transfused in the first 24 h, first ALT, CK, SCr, and phosphateFirst Cr, Phosphate, Blood transfusionSAPS II score, Blood transfusionNot mentioned
Harrois A et al, Crit Care 2018;22(1):344. [13]Prospective observational multicenter study (5/2011-6/2014)3 French level-1 trauma centers13% total AKI R: 7% I:3.7% F:2.3%RIFLE96% within 5 days1.6% RRTTwofold increase ICU mortalityNot the age, SAPS II scoreABP, Maximum heart rate, ISS scoreRenal trauma, Lactate, Hemorrhagic shock, RBC transfusionSAPS II score, SOFA score, CPK peakNot mentioned
Perkins ZB et al, PLoS One 2019;25: 14(1):e0211001. [8]Single-center prospective observational study (1/2007-31/2016)From ER admission-ICU-Hospital discharge178/1410 12.6% KDIGO stage 1: 66.3% 2: 10.1% 3: 23.6%KDIGO 20122 (1–5) days38/178 (21.4%)47/178 (26.4% in AKI patients) 128/1232 (10.4% in non-AKI)Age, DiabetesISS score, Blunt injury, ShockVolume overload, Blood transfusion, Admission SBP, LactateVolume overload, Blood transfusion, Vasopressors, Nephrotoxic drugsNot mentioned
Leditzke K et al, In Vivo. 2021;35(5):2755–62.[19]Single-center retrospective observational study (10/2016-01/2018)ICU trauma patients with ISS>16, admitted within 6 hours after injury18/39NGAL, Serum creatine, Serum urea1.2±1.4 days (range:0–5 days)Not mentioned18% mortalityCKDSevere injury (ISS>16)CatecholaminesMV, Catecholamines, Sepsis, NGAL>177 ng/mlNot mentioned
Yasuda R et al, Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Feb 23;11:1346183.[20]Single-center prospective observational study (10/2019-02/2020)ICU trauma patients15/100LFAB6–12 hours after traumaNot includedNot mentionedNot mentionedISSContrast media, shockShockNot mentioned
Martinez et al, Crit Care 2024;28(1):382.[29]Multicenter retrospective cohort study (French Traumabase registry) (1/1/2012 – 1/6/2023)ICU trauma patients, CK>5000 U/L1544/8592 severe RM Not mentionedNot mentioned4% increase 30-day mortalityNot mentionedISS scoreNot mentionedNot mentionedNot mentioned
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jccm-2026-0009 | Journal eISSN: 2393-1817 | Journal ISSN: 2393-1809
Language: English
Page range: 5 - 19
Submitted on: Jul 23, 2025
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Accepted on: Jan 15, 2026
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Published on: Jan 30, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Eleni Sertaridou, Christina Alexopoulou, Vasilios Papaioannou, published by University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.