Combining different evaluations of sensation to assess the afferent innervation of the lower urinary tract after SCI

Retrospective cohort study.

To study a combination of three evaluations of sensation in the lower urinary tract (LUT) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

University Antwerp Belgium, Unicenter study.

Evaluation of perineal sensation with light digital touch, reporting of filling sensation during a standardised urodynamic investigation and determination of the electrical perception threshold (EPT) were evaluated in patients with SCI.

150 individuals were included: 97 men and 53 women, mean age 46 ± 17 years. Patients had different levels and completeness of SCI, and different techniques for bladder emptying. Seventy-four patients (49%) reported sensation to touch in the perineal area. Sensation of bladder filling was reported in different patterns by 81 patients (54%). EPT was determined in 69 patients of which 50 (72%) reported sensation in different patterns. The outcome of absence/presence of sensation between the three tests differed greatly: with perineal sensation absent 53% had filling sensation (p = 0.040) and 58% positive EPT (p = 0.009). With filling sensation absent 59% had EPT sensation (not significant). Perineal sensation was strongly associated with level and completeness of SCI, while a significant association existed for filling sensations FSF, FDV, SDV and EPT in the distal urethra.

Our study shows that different evaluations of sensation in the LUT of individuals with SCI complement each other. and we therefore propose combined use in the urological evaluation of patients with SCI to allow a more complete picture of the LUT sensations.