Urological Management of Spinal Cord Injuries in Eastern Taiwan

Abstract

175 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with voiding dysfunction were followed up from 1988 to 1994. Among then 72 were cervical SCI, 56 were thoracolumbar and 47 were sacral SCI. A total of 40 surgical procedures were undertaken in order to treat their symptoms or upper urinary tract deteriorations. There were 22 external sphincterotomy, 12 augmentation cystoplasty, 5 continent diversion and 1 Teflon periurethral injection. The quality of urination was assessed and the satisfaction of voiding management was questioned for the patients who received uriological surgery. Only 16.1% of the patients wished for a change to improve their quality while the others were satisfied or accepted for their present outcome. There was no significant difference in the satisfaction rate among different levels of SCI. hydronephrosis was observed in 4.2% cervical, 8.9% thoracolumbar, and 15% sacral SCI. All were resolved after urological management. We conclude that aggressive urological managements are mandatory in treatment of upper urinary tract deterioration and in improvement of urination quality in SCI patients.