Urodynamic Study of Bladder Function in Patients with Lumbar Compression Disorders and the Effect of Decompressive Surgery

Patients with lumbar spinal canal compression not only experienced leg neuropathy but also lowerurinary tract symptoms. There are few reports concerning the prevalence of bladder symptoms and the effect of decompression on urinary symptoms. Objectives: The goal of the present study is to determine the incidence of bladder symptoms and urodynamic findings in lumbar spinal compressive disorders and report on outcomes in patients who have undergone decompressive surgery. Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 35 consecutive patients with lumbosacral root syndrome with or without overt bladder dysfunction. Patients were classified according to the preoperative urodynamic results into; Group I: patients with pre-operative normal bladder function, Group II: patients with pre-operative bladder dysfunction. Urodynamic study was conducted pre-operatively and 3 months after lumbar decompression. Results: There was significant difference between the two studied groups regarding the occurrence of urological symptoms. In the present study, among those 18 patients in group II, areflexic bladder was the most frequent urodynamic diagnosis encountered in 12 (66.6%) patients and 6 (33.4%) of patients were with detrusor overactivity. 6 patients with areflexic bladder showed improvement post operatively. Patients with preoperative neuropathic detrusor overactivity became normal postoperatively. Conclusion: Decompression surgery had a beneficial effect not only on urological symptoms but also on urodynamic study of bladder function.