Current Surgical Treatment for Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

J Clin Med. 2023 Feb 10;12(4):1400. doi: 10.3390/jcm12041400.

Abstract

This study aimed to present a comprehensive literature review of the efforts of a spinal cord injury workgroup in Taiwan regarding urologic surgery for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Surgical procedures should be viewed as a final option for managing patients with SCI who have persistent symptoms and complications that cannot be resolved by other means. Surgeries can be grouped according to their purpose: reducing bladder pressures, reducing urethra resistance, increasing urethra resistance, and urinary diversion. The choice of surgery depends on the type of LUTD based on urodynamic tests. Additionally, cognitive function, hand motility, comorbidities, efficacy of surgery, and related complications should be considered.

Keywords: neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction; spinal cord injury; urologic surgery.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation TCMF-MP 110-03-01 and Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Grant V112C-208).