Bladder management is the top health concern among adults with a spinal cord injury.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) commonly experience secondary complications though it is not known how they prioritize these different health domains. Using the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG) SCI registry, our objective was to identify the top health concerns of individuals with SCI and identify factors that may be associated with these choices with particular focus on urologic issues that participants face. METHODS: Participants in the NBRG registry were asked: "What are the top 3 problems that affect you on a daily basis?" Urinary symptoms and QoL were assessed with the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS). Multivariate regression was used to identify factors related to selecting a top ranked health issue. RESULTS: Among our 1461 participants, 882 (60.4%) were men and the median age was 45.1 years (IQR 25.3-64.9). Bladder management was the most commonly top ranked primary issue (39%) followed by pain (16.4%) and bowel management (11.6%). Factors associated with ranking bladder management as the primary concern included years since injury (OR 1.01 [1.00-1.02], p = 0.042), higher (worse) total NBSS (OR 1.05 [1.03-1.06], p < 0.001), and higher (worse) NBSS QoL (OR 1.25 [1.12-1.41], p < 0.001). Reporting chronic pain on a daily basis was associated with ranking pain as the primary health concern (OR 41.7 [15.7-170], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, bladder management was ranked as the top health issue and increasing time from injury was associated with increased concern over bladder management. More bladder symptoms were also associated with ranking bladder management as a primary concern while bladder management method and urinary tract infections rate were not.

Association of stone surgery with patient-reported complications after spinal cord injury.

AIMS: To determine if a history of urinary stone surgery in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with an increased incidence of SCI-related complications and lower quality of life (QOL). METHODS: The Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG) registry is a multicenter, prospective, observational study which measures QOL after acquired SCI. Over 1.5 years, 1479 participants were enrolled and grouped according to history of stone surgery. We evaluated SCI-related complications, QOL, and associations between patient factors and prior stone surgery using multivariable regression. RESULTS: Participants were a median of 11 years post-SCI and 189 (12.8%) reported prior bladder or kidney stone surgery; 95.8% of these occurred after the SCI. Median time between SCI and first stone was 5.6 years (IQR: 1.8-12.8). Hospitalizations were higher for those with prior stone surgery, with common reasons including UTIs, blood clots, pressure ulcers, and pneumonia (p < 0.001). During the year of observation, the incidence of stone surgery was 17% in those with a prior history of stone surgery and 2% per year in those without prior stone surgery (p < 0.001). Controlling for covariates, bladder management strategy, age, BMI, and years since SCI were associated with history of stone surgery. CONCLUSIONS: People with SCI and a history of surgical stone disease are at high risk for episodes of recurrent stones and increased hospitalizations, particularly those with kidney stones and indwelling catheter use. Identification of high-risk patients may guide tailored surveillance for complications and stone prevention strategies.

External Urethral Sphincter Botulinum Toxin Injection to Treat Pseudodysynergia in Patients With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate urinary outcomes following cystoscopic external urinary sphincter onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX) injections in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Adults with CP can suffer from bladder outlet obstruction and urinary retention due to a spastic external urethral sphincter ("pseudodysynergia"). We have used BTX injections into the sphincter to relieve the obstruction and allow patients to maintain spontaneous voiding rather than intermittent catheterization. METHODS: Patients were included in this retrospective cohort study if they had a diagnosis of CP, were at least 18 years of age, and underwent a urethral external sphincter BTX injection between 2016-2023. The procedure included 100 u or 200 u of BTX mixed in 4cc of saline. Primary outcomes were subjective, patient or caregiver reported changes in retention, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), frequency of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and hydronephrosis or bladder stones/debris on ultrasound. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included; the majority were male (60%), lived at home with assistance (58%), and had a Gross Motor Function Classification System level of V (50%; ie, severe CP). The most common indications for BTX were retention (96%), LUTS (48%), hydronephrosis (18%), and recurrent UTIs (22%). Post-BTX improvement was seen in 67% of those with LUTS, 65% with retention, 67% with hydronephrosis, and 73% with recurrent UTIs. Most patients underwent repeat injections (60%). There were no significant complications associated with injections. CONCLUSION: External urethral sphincter BTX is a safe, effective option for treating pseudodysynergia in adults with CP.

Impact of Virtual Care on Outpatient Urinary Tract Infection Management.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of virtual care on urine testing, antibiotic prescription patterns, and outcomes of care in urinary tract infection (UTI) management. METHODS: We conducted retrospective analysis of adults treated for UTI in an ambulatory setting across a large health system from March 2020-2021. Outcomes included urine testing, antibiotic prescription, and retreatment or hospitalization, stratified by in-person vs virtual visit. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine factors contributing to outcomes. RESULTS: Significantly fewer patients seen virtually had urine testing as compared to those seen in-person (19% vs 69%, P <.001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, virtual visit was the most significant predictor of urine testing, associated with an 86% reduction in the odds of urine testing (odds ratio (OR) 0.14, P <.001). Having a complicated UTI did not affect the likelihood of urine testing (OR 1.0, P = .95). Patients seen virtually were more likely to have a subsequent repeat ambulatory UTI visit (OR 1.16) or repeat antibiotic prescription (1.06) more than 2 weeks after the index encounter, though no more likely to be hospitalized for UTI (OR 1.00). CONCLUSION: Virtual care for UTI is associated with a significant reduction in urine testing and an increase in repeat UTI encounters and additional antibiotics among patients with complicated and uncomplicated UTIs.

Outcomes of Urethroplasty for Synchronous Anterior Urethral Stricture Utilizing the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, management, and functional outcomes of patients with synchronous urethral stricture disease (SUSD) utilizing a multi-institutional cohort. METHODS: Data were collected and assessed from a prospectively maintained, multi-institutional database. Patients who underwent anterior urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease (USD) were included and stratified by the presence or absence of SUSD. USD location and etiology were classified according to the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System. Anterior urethroplasty techniques were recorded for both strictures. Functional failure was compared between groups. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred eighty-three patients were identified, of whom, 137/1983 (6.9%) had SUSD. The mean primary stricture length for patients with SUSD was 3.5 and 2.6 cm for the secondary stricture. Twelve anterior urethroplasty technique combinations were utilized in treating the 27 different combinations of SUSD. Functional failure was noted in 18/137 (13.1%) patients with SUSD vs 192/1846 (10.4%) patients with solitary USD, P = .3. SUSD was not associated with increased odds of functional failure. S classifications: S1b, P = .003, S2a, P = .001, S2b, P = .01 and S2c, P = .02 and E classifications: E3a, P = .004 and E6, P = .03, were associated with increased odds of functional failure. CONCLUSION: Repair of SUSD in a single setting does not increase the risk of functional failure compared to patients with solitary USD. Increasing S classification, S1b through S2c and E classifications E3a and E6 were associated with increased functional failure. This reinforces the importance of the Trauma and Urologic Reconstruction Network of Surgeons Length, Segment and Etiology Anterior Urethral Stricture Classification System as a necessary tool in large-scale multi-institutional analysis when assessing highly heterogenous patient populations.

Abdominal vs Sub-Inguinal Placement of Pressure Regulating Balloon for Artificial Urinary Sphincter.

OBJECTIVES: To compare peri- and postoperative outcomes following artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) insertion using an abdominal versus a sub-inguinal counterincision for pressure regulating balloon (PRB) placement. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all AUS placements by a single surgeon from 2010-2020. Demographic, clinical, and surgical details were obtained from chart review. The cohorts were divided by PRB placement technique (sub-inguinal, abdominal, and attempted sub-inguinal converted intra-operatively to abdominal ["conversion group"]). RESULTS: There were 182 AUS devices placed. The sub-inguinal approach was successfully completed in 132/144 (92%) and converted to abdominal PRB placement in 12/144 (8.3%). The risk of conversion was not increased by prior laparoscopically-assisted robotic prostatectomy (LRP) or radiotherapy (RT). Median operative time was 62, 75, and 77 minutes for sub-inguinal, abdominal, and conversion groups, respectively ( P = 0.30). Time to device activation was 25.0, 32.0, and 37.5 days for abdominal, sub-inguinal, and conversion groups, respectively (P<0.01). There were no bowel or bladder injuries and no PRB herniation in any group; however, there were five instances of pump migration superiorly, all in the sub-inguinal or conversion groups (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The sub-inguinal approach to PRB placement during AUS is safe and can be successfully completed over 90% of the time. However, it is not faster than the abdominal approach to PRB placement and it is associated with an increased risk of pump migration, though the latter may be confounded by the sub-dartos pouch for pump placement that was used in all sub-inguinal cases.

Association Between Ejaculatory Dysfunction and Post-Void Dribbling After Urethroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ejaculatory dysfunction (EjD) and post-void dribbling (PVD) after urethroplasty are associated, providing evidence for a common etiology. METHODS: We reviewed a prospectively maintained database for first-time, anterior urethroplasties. One item from the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) assessed EjD: "How would you rate the strength or force of your ejaculation". One item from the Urethral Stricture Surgery Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (USS-PROM) assessed PVD: "How often have you had slight wetting of your pants after you had finished urinating?". The frequency of symptoms was compared after penile vs. bulbar repairs, and anastomotic versus augmentation bulbar repairs. Associations were assessed with chi-square. RESULTS: A total of 728 men were included. Overall, postoperative EjD and PVD were common; 67% and 66%, respectively. There was a significant association between EjD and PVD for the whole cohort (p<0.0001); this association remained significant after penile repairs (p=0.01), bulbar repairs (p<0.0007), and bulbar anastomotic repairs (p=0.002), but not after bulbar augmentation repairs (p=0.052). EjD and PVD occurred at similar rates after penile and bulbar urethroplasty. The rate of EjD was similar after bulbar augmentation and bulbar anastomotic urethroplasties, but PVD was more common after bulbar augmentation (70% vs. 52%) (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: EjD and PVD after anterior urethroplasty are significantly associated with one another, supporting the theory of a common etiology. High rates after penile repairs argue against a bulbospongiosus muscle damage etiology, and high rates after anastomotic repairs argue against graft sacculation. More work is needed to better understand and prevent symptoms.