Background: Recent decades have seen changes in the urological treatment of myelomeningocele (MMC). We aimed to evaluate the urological outcomes in post-pubertal patients and to clarify associations with walking status, hydrocephalus, and sex.
Methods: A retrospective study of 103 MMC patients at their final pediatric urological control. Urological procedures, the necessity for Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC) and anticholinergic medication, the state of continence, renal ultrasound findings, and serum creatinine values were assessed.
Results: The median age of the patients was 18 years (IQR 16.7-19.6), with 51 (49.5%) being female. Renal function was preserved in all but of one, who presented with mild hydronephrosis. 38 patients walked without assistance, 46 used wheelchairs. Most patients (93%) utilized CIC, and 83% had interventions for overactive or poorly compliant bladder, including anticholinergic medication (47%), Botox treatments (35%), or bladder augmentation (36%). Nearly half (45%) had undergone bladder neck procedures. Continence status revealed 55% fully continent, 18% were rarely incontinent, and 26% were incontinent daily, with most episodes limited to droplet leakage. Incontinence was not associated with the ambulatory status, hydrocephalus, or sex (p = 0.08, >0.99, and 0.07 respectively).
Conclusions: Renal function was effectively maintained with our treatment strategy; however, daily incontinence episodes occurred in one out of four patients, with an additional 18% experiencing occasional rare incontinence episodes. Incontinence, when present, was mostly mild. We found no association between patient characteristics, treatment approach, and continence. Emphasizing incontinence treatment becomes a mainstay in future studies.
Level of evidence: IV.
Keywords: Continence management; Incontinence; Myelomeningocele; Neurogenic bladder; Renal function; Urological outcomes.
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