[Bladder deformity in traumatic spinal cord injury patients].

Fifty-nine patients with traumatic spinal cord injury were subjected for the analysis of bladder deformity. Bladder deformity means bladder trabeculation and deformity of bladder shape such as pine tree shape. We classified bladder deformity into grade 0 (none), grade I (mild), grade II (moderate) and grade III (severe). Upper urinary tract deterioration was found in 0% of grade 0 (16 pts.), 32% of grade I (22 pts.), 80% of grade II (10 pts.) and 82% of grade III (11 pts.). We suggested that bladder deformity was one of the risk factors of upper urinary tract deterioration. High grade (greater than grade II) bladder deformity was found more frequently in complete injury than in incomplete injury. There was no differentiation between overactive bladder-overactive sphincter and underactive bladder-overactive sphincter. All patients with low compliance bladder had a high grade bladder deformity. There was a significant relationship between severity of urinary tract infection and severity of bladder deformity. Intermittent catheterization program was effective for preventing bladder deformity.