Idiopathic hydronephrosis in the young military population.

Introduction Idiopathic, congenital or primary pelvic hydronephrosis is a well recognised condition, which can present a:t any age" but most oommonly in dhildren and in the third decade. The aetiology is still uncertain, though the work of Murnagham' and Whitaker4 has demonstrated that there is an abnormality of muscular peristaltic conduction in the pelvis and pelviureteric junction, which constitutes a functional obstruction to urine flow. Many series have described the diagnosis, surgery and follow-up of this condition1 2 5-10, but none have conoentraJted on the young adult. In Hanley's6 paper he noted that over half of his cases were Army personnel and that their average age at operation was eight years younger than that of his civilian patients. This report covers the experience of the Army Urology Unit with idiopathic hydronephrosis in the six years 1972 to 1977.