Urodynamics in spinal cord injured patients walking with reciprocating gait orthosis

Purpose: We evaluated the effects of walking with reciprocating gait orthos is on bladder function and upper urinary tract status in spinal cord injure d patients. Materials and Methods: Seven patients using reciprocating gait orthosis und erwent urodynamics before and during walking. Abdominal ultrasound was perf ormed before and after urodynamics. Results: Baseline urodynamics showed detrusor areflexia in 3 patients and h yperreflexia in 4. During walking urodynamics revealed hyperreflexia in 6 p atients with worse uninhibited detrusor contraction amplitude (38.2 +/- 41. 2 versus 73.7 +/- 44.4 cm. water, p = 0.006) and duration (2.1 +/- 2.1 vers us 6.8 +/- 5.3 minutes, p = 0.023). After walking ultrasound demonstrated b ilateral pyelectasia in 2 patients. Conclusions: Spinal cord injured patients using reciprocating gait orthosis have worse urodynamic measurements and upper urinary tract disorders durin g walking. They require close urological followup.