Acute urinary retention and urinary incontinence

Urinary retention, the inability to void voluntarily, is a common urologic condition. Urinary retention can signify serious underlying pathology, ofte n presenting a diagnostic challenge to the emergency physician. While urina ry incontinence is not often thought of as an emergency, it can be a presen ting symptom of a more emergent problem (i.e. acute cord compression) or ur gent condition (i.e. new onset multiple sclerosis). This article reviews th e various etiologies of AUR and urinary incontinence, as well as the clinic al assessment, management, and disposition of patients presenting to the em ergency department with these complaints.