Objective: To assess urinary tract function and complications in a regional prevalence group of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), and to estimate risk factors for recurring complications.Materials and methods: A total of 412 patients who attended a yearly check-up at the Spinalis SCI clinic were included. A regional follow-up programme for neurogenic bladder dysfunction was applied, including S-creatinine and S-cystatin-C, urine culture, residual urine, ultrasound of kidneys, urodynamic studies, and a questionnaire regarding complications during the preceding year. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to estimate risk factors.Results: All patients completed blood tests and the questionnaire. A urine culture was completed by 96%, ultrasound by 88%, residual urine by 75%, urodynamics by 51%, and all parts of the study by 47%. One quarter of patients displayed pathological findings regarding kidney function. Urodynamics verified neurogenic overactive bladder in a majority, and a high proportion with intravesical filling pressures above 40 cm H2O, a commonly used cut-off level for kidney safety. Subjectively, 47% of patients reported complications during the past year with urinary tract infection (UTI) as the most common one. Other complications were rare.Conclusions: With the aid of a regular follow-up programme, SCI patients can achieve a relatively stable situation regarding urinary tract function. UTI is the most common complication. Indicators of renal complications are frequent but not clearly related to the number of UTIs, nor to intravesical filling pressures. Main risk factors for complications are cervical levels and more complete neurological lesions.
Keywords: Spinal cord injury; epidemiology; prevalence group; renal complications; urinary tract complications; urinary tract infection.