Risk and Management of Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Spinal Surgery

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common complication after spinal surgery. However, no clear definition of POUR currently exists, and no studies have evaluated the management of POUR. We aimed to investigate the prognostic factors for eventual POUR-free status in spinal surgery patients.

The records of patients who received a urologic consultation for POUR from January 2015 to December 2016 were reviewed. POUR-free status was defined as a voiding volume (VV) >100 mL and a VV ratio >50%. Patients with an indwelling Foley catheter and those with any postoperative complications were excluded. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the primary management method (Foley catheterization [FC] or intermittent catheterization [IC]).

In total, 205 patients (median age, 70.6 years) were evaluated. Significant prognostic factors for eventual POUR-free status were intraoperative FC, previous spinal surgery, operative level (L3-5), lumbar fusion, and total volume (TV) at the time of POUR. Bladder training and medication did not reduce the time to POUR-free status. In patients who underwent FC, the duration of indwelling FC was a significant prognostic factor for POUR-free status. In a subanalysis, the TV (≥500 mL) and VV ratio at the time of POUR were significant prognostic factors for POUR-free status after primary management. Among the patients who achieved a POUR-free status, 8 (6.4%) experienced recurrent POUR. The VV ratio (<62.0%) was the only predictor of recurrent POUR.

The criterion of POUR-free status is useful after spinal surgery. IC and FC were similar in their efficacy for the management of these patients.