Jason Gandhi1,2, Janki Shah3, Gargi Joshi1, Sohrab Vatsia4, Andrew DiMatteo1, Gunjan Joshi5, Noel L Smith6, Sardar Ali Khan1,7. 1. a Department of Physiology and Biophysics , Stony Brook University School of Medicine , Stony Brook , NY , USA. 2. b Medical Student Research Institute , St. George's University School of Medicine , Grenada , West Indies. 3. c Department of Medicine, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine , Middletown , NY , USA. 4. d Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lenox Hill Hospital , New York , NY , USA. 5. e Department of Internal Medicine , Stony Brook Medicine at Southampton Hospital , Southampton , NY , USA. 6. f Foley Plaza Medical , New York , NY , USA. 7. g Department of Urology , Stony Brook University School of Medicine , Stony Brook , NY , USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Lumbar spinal stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which subsequently induces impingement of neural elements in the lumbar spine. Thus, symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are typically associated with damage to those neural elements. Herewith, we target the genitourinary symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis and the importance of differentiating these symptoms from other genitourinary pathologies, namely benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MeSH and keywords relevant to lumbar spinal stenosis and the organs of the urinary tract were used to a guide a literature search on MEDLINE. RESULTS: Bladder dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms (e.g. urinary incontinence, detrusor overactivity and underactivity, as well as frequent urinary tract infections), renal osteodystrophy and sexual dysfunction (e.g. erectile dysfunction and priapism) are implicated in lumbar spinal stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative for urologists to conduct a thorough history and physical examination so that they will not misdiagnose secondary genitourinary manifestations of lumbar spinal stenosis as primary problems or misunderstand secondary problems. Urological consultations are also integral to prioritizing patients with the highest risk of bladder damage for corrective spinal surgery.
PURPOSE:Lumbar spinal stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which subsequently induces impingement of neural elements in the lumbar spine. Thus, symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are typically associated with damage to those neural elements. Herewith, we target the genitourinary symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis and the importance of differentiating these symptoms from other genitourinary pathologies, namely benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MeSH and keywords relevant to lumbar spinal stenosis and the organs of the urinary tract were used to a guide a literature search on MEDLINE. RESULTS:Bladder dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms (e.g. urinary incontinence, detrusor overactivity and underactivity, as well as frequent urinary tract infections), renal osteodystrophy and sexual dysfunction (e.g. erectile dysfunction and priapism) are implicated in lumbar spinal stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative for urologists to conduct a thorough history and physical examination so that they will not misdiagnose secondary genitourinary manifestations of lumbar spinal stenosis as primary problems or misunderstand secondary problems. Urological consultations are also integral to prioritizing patients with the highest risk of bladder damage for corrective spinal surgery.