External sphincterotomy in patients with spinal cord injury.

Urological evaluation was performed on 63 spinal cord injury patients with micturition difficulties or repeated urinary tract infections. Detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia of varying degree was found in 36/63 (57%) of these patients with urological problems, and 15/36 (42%) of them were estimated to benefit by external sphincterotomy. Sphincterotomy was carried out in 11 patients. The effect on micturition problems was good, but intermittent bacteriuria continued despite the operation. However, marked febrile urinary tract infections appeared to subside.