COLONIC VOLVULUS IN THE SPINAL-CORD INJURED PATIENT

At the Prince Henry Hospital between 1970 and 1987, 8 cases of colonic volvulus were diagnosed in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. This r epresents an incidence of 2.6% of SCI patients being treated at the ho spital. The aetiology of volvulus is multifactorial and in these patie nts may be related to: neurological deficit; constipation as a result of immobility; and medications used for controlling muscle spasm, blad der and bowel function. Symptoms and signs are modified by the neurolo gical deficit and awareness of the altered presentation will prevent d elay and missed diagnoses. The effect of spinal cord injury and drugs on colonic motility needs further evaluation.