MORPHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL FACTORS PREDICTING BLADDER DETERIORATIONAFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Purpose: We investigated factors predictive of morphological and funct ional deterioration of the bladder in patients with spinal cord injury . Materials and Methods: Urological evaluation, including excretory ur ography and urodynamic studies, was performed once a year in 66 patien ts. Bladder compliance was used as an index of bladder function. Resul ts: Mean age of the patients with worsening bladder form and function was significantly greater than that of those with no change. In patien ts with worsening bladder function intermittent catheterization was pe rformed less frequently and mean catheterization volume was greater co mpared to those with improvement and no change. Catheterization was le ss frequent and at long intervals in patients with a high urethral clo sure pressure. Conclusions: High storage pressure due to a high urethr al closure pressure is believed to cause deterioration of bladder form and function.