Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: FRII-09
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

The exquisite leadership and unmatched resolve of Sir Winston Churchill during the Second World War are known well beyond the borders of Britain. The adversities he overcame in the 1930’s and 1940’s have been extensively explored. However, one lesser known misfortune he faced earlier in life had a profound impact upon Mr. Churchill. The details surrounding this urologic traumatic event are herein examined, specifically with respect to the management his physicians selected. These medical decisions early in Mr. Churchill’s life were important for shaping the future of the Western World and the emergence of the ‘British Bulldog’.

Methods

A review of the literature was performed with Google Scholar to assess secondary sources pertinent to the early life of Sir Winston Churchill. Specifically, to further examine the urologic traumatic event that took place during Churchill’s late adolescence and how this clinical situation was managed.

Results

In the early winter of 1892, an 18 year old Winston Churchill was on holiday at the estate of his aunt in Bournemouth, England. While accompanied by his younger brother and a young cousin, the boys took up a game of chasing the older Churchill. Churchill found himself in the middle of a bridge straddling a ravine with a boy on either side. In the spirit of the game, he climbed over the railing of the bridge and pondered, “to plunge or not to plunge, that was the question!” He chose to plunge, and the slender firs he hoped would break his 29-foot fall did little to mitigate the traumatic results. It was 3 days before he regained consciousness and several weeks before he could climb from bed. He was diagnosed with a ‘kidney rupture’ as well as a concussion and right shoulder injury. The Churchill’s family physician, Dr. Robson Roose, as well as a London surgeon, Dr. John Rose, recommended 3 months of bed rest. Churchill’s recovery was prolonged and he stated, “for a year I looked at life round a corner.”

Conclusions

Kidneys are the 3rd most common solid organ to be damaged following blunt trauma, and renal lacerations are a common result of rapid deceleration. These injuries need operative intervention in less than 10% of cases, but those numbers are bolstered by 21st century imaging. In late 19th century Britain, without the use of modern imaging technology, these physicians selected the appropriate conservative treatment modality. If young Winston Churchill would have met an early demise, the fight against Nazi Germany may have ultimately had a different outcome.

Funding

none