Care of the neurogenic bladder in spinal cord injuries

Abstract

The carefree independence of a healthy individual has been transformed in a second of time to a future of unknown quality. Total readjustment as to values and future goals are placed alongside physical readjustments made necessary according to the degree of injury. For patients with spinal cord injuries treatment of their resultant neurogeenic bladder may be conservative or surgical. The patient may have a complete or an incomplete lesion of the spinal cord. In the complete lesion, there is no sparing of motor or sensory system below the level of the lesion. In the incomplete lesion, there may be partial preservation of either or both. On admission to a spinal injury unit, the patients has urinary retention which is initially treated conservatively prior to the onset of reflex detrustor activity and subsequent bladder assessment.