Vesicoureteral reflux in the early stage of spinal cord injury: a retrospective study

Study design: A retrospective study. Objectives: To investigate the risk factors of vesicoureteral reflux in the early stage of spinal cord injury. Setting: Japan. Methods: Urological evaluation, including cystography and urodynamic study was performed in patients in the early stage of spinal cord injury. The pat ients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 13 patients with vesic oureteral reflux. Group 2 included 97 patients without vesicoureteral reflu x. We compared Group 1 and Group 2 regarding bladder deformation, the level of spinal cord injury, bladder behaviour, bladder compliance, high urethra l closure pressure and method of urine evacuation. Results: The patients injured between Th10 and L2 showed a significantly hi gher incidence of vesicoureteral reflux than those injured in other areas ( P<0.01). Furthermore, bladder compliance among patients with vesicoureteral reflux tended to be low. Other factors showed no differences between patie nts with and without vesicoureteral reflux. Conclusion: injuries between Th10 and L2 involve the sympathetic nervous sy stem. Patients with such injuries often exhibited vesicoureteral reflux in the early stage of spinal cord injury.