Neurogenic bladder dysfunction in lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse

Lumbar disc prolapse with urinary dysfunction is an uncommon condition. The clinical, pathological and follow-up details of 30 patients are presented. Detrusor recovery is rare and most patients are left with an areflexic bladder. Female patients with lumbar disc prolapse and an areflexic detrusor who strain to empty their bladders are likely to develop genuine stress incontinence. This may be managed by the early institution of intermittent self-catheterisation, which may reduce the need for incontinence surgery.