title: Quality of life in complete spinal cord injury patients with a Brindley bladder stimulator compared to a matched control group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects on Quality of Life (QoL) of a Brindley procedure, which combines a sacral dorsal root rhizotomy to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity with sacral anterior root stimulation to enable micturition, defecation, and penile erections in complete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients compared to a matched Control Group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. The Qualiveen questionnaire, SF-36 questionnaire, and multiple choice questions about urinary continence and urinary tract infections were sent to 93 patients who had a Brindley stimulator implanted in the Netherlands and a matched Control Group of 70 complete SCI patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Primary study outcomes were Specific Impact of Urinary Problems score and general QoL index of the Qualiveen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were 78% and 40% for patients with a Brindley stimulator and controls, respectively. Stimulators were still used for micturition in 46 (63%). These patients had a significant better Specific Impact of Urinary Problems score, general QoL index (Qualiveen), and continence rate, and less urinary tract infections compared to the Control Group. Patients also benefited of the rhizotomy with regard to QoL and continence rate if the stimulator was not used anymore. The subscales of the SF-36 had better scores for the patients who used their stimulator as compared to those who did not use the stimulator and compared to the Control Group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Brindley stimulator for complete spinal cord injury patients improves Quality of Life, continence, and urinary tract infection rate compared to a matched Control Group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank M J
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Philip P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: den Hollander
authors.forename: Govert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Snoek
authors.forename: Evert L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Koldewijn
authors.forename: Philip E V A
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: van Kerrebroeck
authors.forename: John P F A
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Heesakkers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058542:Implantable Neurostimulators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019051:Rhizotomy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy