What Is an Impacted Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone is considered to be impacted when the stone becomes lodged in the urinary tract and is unable to be passed through the urine stream.

Significance

• Impacted kidney stones require immediate medical attention to avoid the risk of infection or more severe kidney damage.

Treatment

• In some cases, medication may help dissolve the impacted stone. Other patients will require non-invasive procedures like Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) to break apart the stone. In rare instances, surgical removal will be necessary.

Size

• Not surprisingly, the likelihood of a stone becoming caught in the urinary tract often depends on size. “For stones less than 3 mm in width, the chance of spontaneous stone passage is very high,” says the Cornell University Department of Urology. “Stones more than 8 mm. in width are only about 20 percent likely to pass spontaneously.”

Effects

• While all stones bring some element of discomfort, the impacted kidney stone causes the most difficulty. “Stones that don't move may cause a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, the bladder or the urethra, “according to the National Kidney Foundation. “This is what causes the pain.”

Considerations

• Poor dietary choices often result in children as young as five facing an onslaught of kidney stones. Preventative tactics include ensuring that children drink significant amounts of water daily and limiting the consumption of foods high in sodium.