Incidence and treatment of urinary calculi in patients in Frederiksborg County

The case records of all patients admitted to one of the hospitals in the County of Frederiksborg with radiologically demonstrated first episodes of urinary calculi during a period of one year in 1983/1984 and 1988/1989 respectively were reviewed retrospectively. Uniform frequencies of calculus incidence and sex distribution were encountered mutually and as compared with the remainder of Denmark during the two periods. In 30% of the cases the calculi were localized to the kidneys and in 58% to the ureter. In approximately 65% of the patients, the greatest diameter of the stones was 100 mm or less. Spontaneous passage of the stones occurred in approximately 40%. Development in the treatment of urinary tract stones has followed the development in the county as a whole. The number of operative interventions during the five year period was reduced by 30% and extracorporeal shock wave treatment was employed in 22% during the second period.