Sigmoid colon rupture secondary to Credé's method in a patient with spinal cord injury

Credé's method is a manual suprapubic pressure exerted with a clenched fist or fingers, used to initiate micturition, in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have neurovesical dysfunction. It is usually a benign maneuver unassociated with any major complications. This paper will illustrate a case report involving a sigmoid colon rupture secondary to Credé's method in a patient with SCI. Various techniques of Credé's method are briefly described. It is recommended that patients with quadriplegia avoid forceful use of Credé's method, as it may cause contusion of the abdominal wall and injuries to internal viscera, possibly leading to colonic rupture. It is believed that this is the first reported case of such an unusual complication of Credé's method in patients with SCI.