Objective: To explore the video-urodynamic characteristics and management in complete cervical and thoracic spinal cord injury patients.
Methods: Video-urodynamic examination was performed in 113 patients with complete cervical and thoracic spinal cord injury from January 2008 to May 2010. And their characteristics, managements and 3-year follow-up outcomes were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.
Results: Among them, there were detrusor overactivity (n = 82, 72.57%), detrusor areflexia (n = 31, 27.43%), detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia (n = 71, 62.83%), low-compliance (n = 59, 52.21%), reflux (n = 6, 5.31%) and ultrasonic uronephrosis (n = 12, 10.62%). According to the result of the video-urodynamic examination, detrusor overactivity patients chose oral anticholinergic agents, botulinum toxin type A injection method, detrusor areflexia patients chose regular intermittent catheterization for bladder training. During a 3-year follow-up, there were cystic calculus (n = 2) and urinary infection (n = 7).No special complication occurred.
Conclusions: The video-urodynamic characteristics vary in complete cervical and thoracic spinal cord injury patients. The major symptoms include detrusor overactivity, detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia and low-compliance bladder. Proper management is essential for protecting upper urinary tract and preventing urinary system complication.