[Neurogenic bladder caused by spinal cord traction]

A neurogenic bladder was the presenting syndrome in three cases of spinal cord traction. Of the typical symptomatic triad: neuro-orthopedic, cutaneous and urologic, the latter was of primary importance. Symptoms in the first case were incomplete bladder retention with distention of upper urinary tract, right-sided vesicorenal reflux and renal insufficiency. Six months after excision of a sacral lipoma and freeing of the filum terminale, micturition had become normal without residue, and renal function normalized. Right-sided reflux was corrected by submucosal advancement surgery with good results. The clinical history was more suggestive in the second case. Although inaugural symptoms were mictional, there was foot paralysis and a retrosacral lipoma above an abnormal hairy tuft in the upper part of the gluteal cleft. Operation revealed the presence of a dermoid cyst and a lipoma. Their excision combined with section of the filum terminale allowing ascension of the medullary cone. Marked clinical and urodynamic improvement was obtained with normal micturition and disappearance of incontinence. An anti-reflux operation suppressed residual reflux with good urographic results. Marked improvement in mictional disorders was obtained also in the 3rd case after excision of a sacral extradural lipoma and section of the filum terminale, allowing objective ascension of the medullary cone by 4 cm. A very detailed analysis was conducted of similar cases reported in the literature, about 2% of neurogenic bladders in children being affected. The importance of early diagnosis is emphasized as well as the essential need to establish a precise diagnosis of the lipoma of cauda equina and of medullary fixation. Early neurosurgery is justified by the high frequency of improvement in cases treated in this way.