The management of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Abstract

The management of patients with neurogenic bladder has changed substantially over the past decades. Obtaining balanced lower urinary tract function has become possible in most patients, although, urological complications remain among the most serious complications these patients are likely to have and, even today, these can have a negative effect on quality of life. To this extent, patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are likely to develop neurogenic bladder, and data are available on most aspects of neurogenic bladder in these patients. Data on physiology and pathophysiology form the basis of our understanding of patients' symptoms, and also provide a basis for the management of these patients. The use of conservative, and/or more invasive treatment measures, their complications and measures to prevent these complications, are all important clinical aspects that merit discussion. Considerable progress has been made in the urological management of patients with SCI over the past decades, but opportunities remain to make diagnosis more accurate and therapy more successful.