title: Bladder function in patients with lipomyelomeningocele.
abstract: We evaluated preoperative and postoperative bladder function in 31 consecutive patients who underwent definitive operative correction of lipomyelomeningocele. Of 12 patients less than 1.5 years old at operation, bladder function was normal preoperatively and postoperatively in 5 (42%) and normalized postoperatively in 4 (33%). In 5 patients (42%) abnormal urodynamic findings were the only sign of neurological abnormality. Of the 19 patients older than 1.5 years at operation bladder function was normal preoperatively and postoperatively in only 4 (21%), and normalized postoperatively in none. We conclude that the majority of patients with lipomyelomeningocele have bladder dysfunction, and that in some cases this dysfunction can be prevented and/or reversed by early neurosurgical intervention. Urodynamic assessment is helpful as part of the neurological evaluation and in directing patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143-0738.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cogen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology