title: Fowler's syndrome of urinary retention: A retrospective study of co-morbidity.
abstract: To study the frequency of pain, psychological, or functional disorders in patients with Fowler's syndrome.
  
  
  
  We carried out a retrospective chart review of patients with a diagnosis of Fowler's syndrome attending the Uro-Neurology centre at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery between 2009 and 2013 looking at triggering events, physical and psychological comorbidities.
  
  
  
  Of 62 patients with clinical and electromyographic diagnosis of Fowler's syndrome, 31 (50%) had unexplained chronic pain syndromes, 12 (19%) of these were taking opiates. Fifteen (24%) had "functional" neurological symptoms. Abdominopelvic surgery with general anesthesia was the leading trigger (n = 21, 35%).
  
  
  
  We found high levels of co-morbidity with patients having some form of pain (50%), a probable functional disorder (24%), or psychological symptoms (31%). There are several potential explanations for this association including the effect of developing an apparently unexplained distressing condition, confounding effect of opiate use or referral bias. The findings suggest a need for prospective systematic study of comorbidity for this disabling condition. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:601-603, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom.
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Hoeritzauer
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Stone
authors: Department of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Fowler
authors: Department of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Suzy
authors: S
authors: Elneil-Coker
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Carson
authors: Department of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Jalesh
authors: J
authors: Panicker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fowler's syndrome; comorbidity; functional disorders; urinary retention