UROLOGICAL OUTCOME IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY - THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION

A review of 52 female patients with spinal cord injury is presented. Twenty five of 38 patients seen within 3 months of their injury were discharged on a clean intermittent catheterisation regime. Of the 14 patients seen at an interval of 3 months or greater after the injury, only 3 practised clean intermittent catheterisation but 8 had a long term indwelling urethral catheter as the method of management. At 49 months median follow-up, only 14 (50%) continue on the programme of intermittent catheterisation and 9 (32%) are dry. This lack of success was due to incontinence, despite drug therapy in 17 patients. Recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infection occurred in 10 (36%). Thirteen of the 14 patients (92%) on long term indwelling urethral catheter developed complications. Five patients voided normally. Automatic bladder emptying was employed in only 2 patients but was associated with the development of a non-functioning kidney in 1 and severe incontinence in another. Upper tract changes occurred in 7 patients (13%) including 3 on indwelling catheter drainage and 2 on intermittent catheterisation. Four patients have had implantation of the Brindley intradural sacral anterior root stimulator because of recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections and incontinence in all 4. Post-operatively the incidence of infection has been reduced. Improvement in the degree of incontinence is related to the completion of posterior root section. Those patients who have no alternative to long term catheter drainage are managed by the suprapubic route to avoid urethral incompetence. This is combined with catheter clamping for 2 hours daily to maintain bladder capacity and anti-cholinergic therapy to reduce detrusor contractility. Early referral to a unit with urological support and long term urological follow-up in patients is recommended. © 1990 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.