Urodynamics in spinal cord injured patients walking with reciprocating gait orthosis.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effects of walking with reciprocating gait orthosis on bladder function and upper urinary tract status in spinal cord injured patients.


METHODS
Seven patients using reciprocating gait orthosis underwent urodynamics before and during walking. Abdominal ultrasound was performed before and after urodynamics.


RESULTS
Baseline urodynamics showed detrusor areflexia in 3 patients and hyperreflexia in 4. During walking urodynamics revealed hyperreflexia in 6 patients with worse uninhibited detrusor contraction amplitude (38.2 +/- 41.2 versus 73.7 +/- 44.4 cm. water, p = 0.006) and duration (2.1 +/- 2.1 versus 6.8 +/- 5.3 minutes, p = 0.023). After walking ultrasound demonstrated bilateral pyelectasia in 2 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Spinal cord injured patients using reciprocating gait orthosis have worse urodynamic measurements and upper urinary tract disorders during walking. They require close urological followup.
Giannantoni
A
A
"S. Lucia" Rehabilitation Hospital I. R. C. C. S, Rome, Italy.
Di Stasi
S M
SM
Scivoletto
G
G
Mollo
A
A
D'Ambrosio
F
F
Castellano
V
V
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*