Continent urinary diversion and diverting colostomy in the therapy of non-healing pressure sores in paraplegic patients.

Abstract

Immobilization and subsequent sacral decubitus or pressure sore formation is a danger faced by the paraplegic. We report on 4 patients treated with non-healing pressure sores. Three male patients had decubiti eroding into the posterior urethra and bladder neck area. One female patient had bladder neck and urethral loss secondary to Foley catheter erosion and a sacral pressure sore. All 4 had non-healing decubiti secondary to urinary contamination and, in addition, gross fecal contamination in the male patients. All patients failed previous muscular flaps and urinary diversion per suprapubic tube. In the male patients, suprapubic continent urinary diversion included bladder neck mobilization, closure of the distal urethra by oversewing and patching with bovine dura, and augmentation of the bladder with a Miami pouch. Fecal diversion was provided with a sigmoid colostomy. In the female patient, continent diversion was performed by forming a Miami pouch. Total diversion allowed healing of the pressure sores and provided a simpler method of personal hygiene. Details of the diversion and case studies will be presented.