Description of Urological Surveillance and Urologic Ultrasonography Outcomes in a Cohort of Individuals with Long-Term Spinal Cord Injury

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at a higher risk of developing urological complications, such as renal stones and upper tract dilatation. Therefore, long-term routine urological surveillance is recommended to monitor and manage these potential issues. This study describes the current state of urological surveillance among Dutch individuals with long-term SCI and explores factors associated with the outcome of urologic ultrasonography (UU), a common tool used for monitoring the urinary tract. The study found that over one-third of participants did not receive routine urological checkups, and UU outcomes were not associated with routine checkups or the type of bladder-emptying method used. These findings suggest a need for further research on the appropriate indications and frequency of urological surveillance in this population.

• 1
  39% of the participants did not have routine urological checkups.
• 2
  33% never had a urodynamic study performed.
• 3
  Abnormal UU outcome was associated with increasing TSI, nontraumatic SCI, and previous surgical bladder or UUT stone removal.