Self-catheterization acquisition after hand reanimation protocols in C5-C7 tetraplegic patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series from a prospectively acquired database and phone survey. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of upper limb reanimation (ULR) protocols on acquisition of intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) in C5-C7 ASIA tetraplegic patients. SETTING: University Hospital, Paris, France. METHODS: A prospectively acquired database of 152 tetraplegic patients followed in ULR consultation between 1997 and 2008 in a rehabilitation unit was studied. A total of 20 patients met the inclusion criteria, which mainly were traumatic C5-C7 tetraplegic adult patients who were unable to perform ISC, and who benefited from ULR with the objectives of improving hand abilities and of ISC acquisition, through urethral orifice for males or via a continent urinary stoma for females. The main outcome measure was ISC acquisition (ISC+) proportion. Population characteristics and secondary outcome measures: ISC+/ISC- patients were compared regarding epidemiological and surgical data, key-grip strength, patient global improvement score, activities of daily living and quality of life (PGI-I, Wuolle questionnaire, verbal rating scale). RESULTS: ISC+ was 75%. It depended on key-grip strength (P<0.05) and led to a statistically significant improvement of urinary status compared with ISC- patients (P<0.01). ULR improved patients' abilities and QoL in both ISC+ and ISC- patients. CONCLUSION: ULR protocols allow ISC in most C5-C7 tetraplegic patients. Multidisciplinary care with surgeons and PRM physicians improves patients' vital and functional prognosis by changing their urological-management method.

A novel technique to achieve cutaneous continent urinary diversion in spinal cord-injured patients unable to catheterize through native urethra.

STUDY DESIGN: Description of a technique and prospective follow-up study. OBJECTIVES: To present and assess a perioperative strategy associated with a single-procedure surgical technique for continent cutaneous diversion in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients requiring self-catheterization and unable to do it through the native urethra. SETTING: University hospital, Paris, France. METHODS: We considered SCI patients suffering from urinary incontinence related to neurogenic detrusor overactivity and/or poor bladder emptying for more than 1 year and inability to perform self-catheterization through the native urethra. These patients including quadriplegics underwent selection for surgery by occupational therapists and neurorehabs to assess the ability to self catheterize through an abdominal stoma and to determine the optimal site to place the stoma. The surgical technique included a single procedure: aponevrotic sling in women requiring stress continence reinforcement, supratrigonal cystectomy, preserved detrusor wall flap (original description), enterocystoplasty, a catheterizable tube using either the Mitrofanoff or Young-Monti principle and Politano-Leadbetter anti-reflux technique. A prospective follow-up study of consecutive patients reviewed initial condition, indication, surgical technique, complications, continence, catheterizing difficulties, functional bladder capacity and serum creatinine. RESULTS: Thirteen consecutive patients were selected for surgery. Median follow-up was 44 months. Stoma location was variable from one patient to another. All patients had a catheterizable continent stoma at last follow-up. Kidney function was preserved. CONCLUSION: Given these results, a multidisciplinary approach including neuro-rehabilitation practitioners and urologists performing appropriate technical solutions in highly selected SCI patients unable to catheterize native urethra provides upper urinary tract protection and continence after a single procedure.

Outcome after treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia by temporary stent.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate follow-up treatments used after treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) by a temporary urethral sphincter stent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1994 and June 2003, 147 men with a mean age of 41.3+/-14.4 years were treated by temporary urethral stent inserted across the external sphincter for DSD. The underlying neurologic disease was quadriplegia in 85 cases, multiple sclerosis in 24 cases and paraplegia in 21 cases. A Nissenkorn (Bard) stent was used in 130 cases and a Diabolo (Porgès) stent was used in 17 cases. All patients were either unable to or they refused to perform intermittent self-catheterization. DSD was demonstrated by urodynamic studies in every case. RESULTS: The mean duration of temporary stenting was 10.15+/-16.07 months. After temporary stenting, 92 patients were treated by permanent stent (Ultraflex, Boston Scientifics), 7 started intermittent self-catheterization, 12 had repeated changes of the temporary stent, 4 had an indwelling catheter, 3 underwent cystectomy with non-continent diversion, 2 were treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy, 1 was treated by bladder neck incision, 1 was treated by neuromodulation and 1 was treated by cystostomy. Fifteen patients were lost to follow-up. Two patients died during follow-up (not related to DSD). CONCLUSION: After treatment of DSD by a temporary urethral sphincter stent, 70.7% of patients subsequently require a permanent urethral sphincter stent. This period allows selection of patients unlikely to benefit from permanent urethral sphincter stent.

[Lower urinary tract dysfunction and spinal cord injury]. / Troubles vésico-sphinctériens et traumatismes médullaires.

The life expectancy of spinal cord injury patients has increased considerably over recent years due to improved management based on a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the abnormalities induced by spinal cord injury. The objective of treatment of spinal cord injury patients is to prevent the various complications, but also allow patients to regain maximum independence in order to facilitate their social rehabilitation. This result can only be obtained and maintained by multidisciplinary management in a network including urologists, as, although urinary complications have considerably decreased (they no longer represent the leading cause of mortality), they still constitute a frequent presenting complaint or reason for rehospitalization in this population.

[Lower urinary tract dysfunction and peripheral neuropathies: the model of Guillain-Barré syndrome]. / Troubles vésico-sphinctériens et neuropathies périphériques: le modèle du "Guillain Barré".

Acute peripheral polyneuropathy can be accompanied by neurogenic urological disorders. The model of Guillain-Barré syndrome allows analysis of these disorders in order to define the management of neurological symptoms. Although this is a rare disease, it is important for urologists to be familiar with the main features of its natural history, as the associated urinary disorders resolve at the same time as the other neurological symptoms after an interval that can sometimes last one year.

[Clinical specificities of spinal cord injury patients (pressure ulcers, autonomic hyperreflexia, spasticity)]. / Spécificités cliniques du blessé médullaire (escarres, HRA, spasticité).

The management of spinal cord injury patients requires a knowledge of several non-urological aspects associated with a risk of particular complications in these patients: pressure ulcers, spasticity and autonomic hyperreflexia. Spinal cord injury patients present a high risk of pressure ulcer, as almost all patients develop at least one pressure ulcer during their lifetime. During a stay in hospital, the medical team must be particularly attentive to prevent these problems, as, once they develop, they can take several months or even years to heal. Autonomic hyperreflexia and spasticity can be due to a urological cause. These two diseases can cause major discomfort for the patient and, in these patients, must be considered to be equivalent to the pain that they can no longer feel due to sensory disorders. The management of spinal cord injury patients must take into account these three particular risk factors: pressure ulcers, spasticity and autonomic hyperreflexia.

[Management of increase in spasticity in patients with intrathecal baclofen pumps]. / Conduite à tenir devant une recrudescence de spasticité chez un patient porteur d'une pompe à baclofène.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of complications after baclofen pump implantation is relatively high. Diagnosis of these complications can be difficult. A diagnostic tree would be a useful tool in cases of suspected malfunctioning of the intrathecal bacolfen infusion system and would standardise the diagnostic procedure. METHOD: From results in the literature and the experience of our department, we designed a diagnostic tree to aid in finding the cause of a recrudescence of spasticity in patients with implanted baclofen pumps. RESULTS: The potential causes of recrudescence of spasticity are described and a diagnostic pathway is proposed. DISCUSSION: The aim of a standardised hierarchical method of diagnosis of the cause of increased spasticity in patients with intrathecal baclofen pumps is to gain time in the diagnosis and treatment. Such diagnosis should improve patient care by permitting rapid restoration of an adequate level of baclofen infusion as well as decreasing the length of hospital stay and, as a consequence, the cost relating to malfunctioning pumps.

[Efficacy of botulinum toxin A for the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia]. / Effet de la toxine botulique A intradétrusorienne pour le traitement de l'hyperactivité vésicale d'origine neurologique.

OBJECTIVE: To determinate the efficacy of botulinum toxin to treat refractory urinary incontinence due to bladder hyperreflexia. METHOD: The international medical literature was reviewed from the Medline and Pubmed database. DISCUSSION: The usual first line treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia is parasympathicolytic drugs and self cathterization. In case of lack of efficacy or severe side effects, a surgical procedure (enterocystoplasty) can be performed. 300 units of Botox injected into the detrusor permit a significant increase of bladder capacity and a significant decrease of maximal detrusor pressure for at last 6 months. But we did not find any double blind controlled studies in this indication and no fundamental studies focused on the mechanism of action of botulinum toxin on the bladder muscle. It is now impossible to conclude on the long term efficacy and toxicity. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin injected into the detrusor muscle seems to be an efficient treatment of bladder hyperreflexia for 6 months in patients resistant to parasympathicolytic drugs. Long term efficacy and mechanism of action is actually not known.

Urodynamic effect of acute transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation in overactive bladder.

PURPOSE: Of the various treatments proposed for urge incontinence, frequency and urgency electrostimulation has been widely tested. Different techniques have been used with the necessity of surgical implantation (S3 neuromodulation or sacral root stimulation) or without requiring surgery (perineal transcutaneous electrostimulation). Recently peripheral electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve was proposed for irritative symptoms in first intention or for intractable incontinence. Clinical studies have demonstrated good results and urodynamic parameters were improved after chronic treatment. However, to our knowledge no data concerning acute stimulation and immediate cystometry modifications have been reported. We verified urodynamic changes during acute posterior tibial nerve stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 consecutive patients with urge incontinence, frequency and urgency secondary to overactive bladder were studied. There were 29 women and 15 men with a mean age +/-SD of 53.3 +/- 18.2 years. Of the patients 37 had detrusor hyperreflexia due to multiple sclerosis (13), spinal cord injury (15) or Parkinson's disease (9), and 7 had idiopathic detrusor instability. Routine cystometry at 50 ml. per minute was done to select the patients with involuntary detrusor contractions appearing before 400 ml. maximum filling volume. Repeat cystometry was performed immediately after the first study during left posterior tibial nerve stimulation using a surface self-adhesive electrode on the ankle skin behind the internal malleolus with shocks in continuous mode at 10 Hz. frequency and 200 milliseconds wide. Volume comparison was done at the first involuntary detrusor contraction and at maximum cystometric capacity. The test was considered positive if volume at the first involuntary detrusor contraction and/or at maximum cystometric capacity increased 100 ml. or 50% during stimulation in compared with standard cystometry volumes. RESULTS: Mean first involuntary detrusor contraction volume on standard cystometry was 162.9 +/- 96.4 ml. and it was 232.1 +/- 115.3 ml. during posterior tibial nerve stimulation. Mean maximum cystometric capacity on standard cystometry was 221 +/- 129.5 ml. and it was 277.4 +/- 117.9 ml. during stimulation. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation was associated with significant improvement in first involuntary detrusor contraction volume (p <0.0001) and significant improvement in maximum cystometric capacity (p <0.0001). The test was considered positive in 22 of the 44 patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an objective acute effect of posterior tibial nerve stimulation on urodynamic parameters. Improved bladder overactivity is an encouraging argument to propose posterior tibial nerve stimulation as a noninvasive treatment modality in clinical practice.

[Surgical treatment of orthopedic deformities due to spasticity in the lower limb]. / Les traitements orthopédiques des conséquences dela spasticité membre inférieur.

Orthopedic deformities in the lower limb concern all joints (hip, knee, ankle, foot) with a wide range of clinical forms. Spasticity, contracture, stiffness, laxity, neurological deficit are assessed to establish the surgical procedure. Surgical techniques are adapted to the goals that are detailed with the patient and his family: standing, transferring, walking, hygiene, devices (shoes, orthosis, canes, wheelchair). Surgical procedures can associate: lengthening of contractured muscles (tenotomy with or without sutures, fractional lengthening at the musculo-tendinous junction or desinsertion), strengthening of antagonists (passive or active tendon transfer) and correction of joint deformity (arthrolysis, arthrodesis, arthroplasty). In adults, the most common deformities are the equinus or equinovarus foot, toe curling, hip adductum, knee flessum. Talus or knee recurvatum are less frequently observed. The association of various deformities raises questions concerning the hierarchy of surgical procedure, from an anatomical point of view (do we start with proximal or distal joint first?) as from chronological concerns (shall we do one or more procedures?). Pluridisciplinary assessment using neurological anesthetic blocs and dynamic EMG or gait analysis is necessary to detail the aims of surgery and choose the surgical procedures.

[Intrathecal therapy for bladder hyperreflexia]. / Traitement de la vessie hyperactive par les drogues intrathécales.

Intrathecal clonidine was tested for the control of bladder hyperreflexia resistant to pararsympathicolytic drugs in spinal cord injured patients. Urodynamic parameters were significantly improved after acute bolus of intrathecal low doses of clonidine. Unfortunately, the chronic intrathecal infusion of clonidine induced cardiovascular side-effects. Intrathecal baclofen did not modified significantly neurogenic bladder dysfunction from spinal lesion. But intrathecal baclofen modified penile erection quality and impaired the ejaculation reflex induced by penile vibratory stimulation in the same population.