An Evaluation of Average Flow Rate in Traumatic Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

Abstract

The average flow rate of 60 male patients with spinal cord injuries was studied in a simplified method with a urine cup and a stopwatch. Results were based on the level of the lesion, course of injury, sensation of micturition, cystometric type and cystographic change. The average flow rate of 60 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury was 10.62 plus or minus 5.37 ml. per second, while that of 10 normal adult male patients was 15.70 plus or minus 3.10 ml. per second. The average flow rate was better in patients who had normal or nearly normal proprioceptive sensation than in those without this sensation. Bladder deterioration was not noted on the cystograms of patients who had normal proprioceptive sensations. Therefore, patients with traumatic cord bladders with normal urinary sensation may have a good prognosis, while those with disturbed proprioceptive sensation may require some urological manipulation to reduce urethral resistance.