Surgical management of the congenital neuropathic bladder

We have previously described 3 types of lower urinary tract dysfunction in the congenital neuropathic bladder--contractile, intermediate and acontractile--accounting for 35, 40 and 25% of patients respectively. Subsequent urodynamic and surgical experience has shown that the intermediate type is commoner and the acontractile type less common than was thought. The contractile group accounts for 31% of patients and rarely requires surgery (a "clam" ileocystoplasty). The acontractile group accounts for only 9% but more commonly requires surgical treatment, usually the implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). The intermediate group accounts for 60% of patients and usually requires surgery. If there is no significant sphincter weakness incontinence, a "clam" ileocystoplasty alone is performed; if there is sphincter weakness, a "clam and a cuff" procedure is performed with implantation of the remainder of the AUS at a later date, if required.