DOHA: An average of 70 patients including children are treated annually at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for neurourology disorders due to spinal code injuries, according an expert.
Neurourology concerns nervous system control of the genitourinary system, and of conditions causing abnormal urination.
Majority of patients who come to HMC with neurourology problems are due to motor accidents and falling form heights and the number of cases increase each year, said Dr Ardalan Ghafouri, Urology Consultant, Voiding Dysfunction Unit, Urology Department at the HMC, yesterday.
“We get men and women of all ages, even children,” he said.
“Spinal injuries mainly happen because of road traffic accidents. Luxury vehicles go very fast and many occupants don’t wear seat belts. The other main group is labourers. When they work in summer in construction sites they get heat attacks and fall, which may result in spinal code injuries. Unfortunately some of the workers don’t continue treatment here because they go back home as the employers don take care of them,” added Dr Ghafouri.
Bladder problems occur as a result of damage to the spinal cord.
The sacral nerves at the base of the spine control functions of the bladder, so virtually any level of spinal cord injury may result in bladder control problems.
Individuals with spinal code injury and associated bladder problems will need a urinary catheter to manage their bladder problems.
People with a spastic bladder should use a single-use, intermittent catheter or indwelling (Foley) catheter. Males may choose to use an external condom catheter instead.
Complications of bladder problems resulting from spinal code injuries include urinary tract infections, sepsis, dyssynergia, kidney stones or bladder stones and bladder cancer in those who use indwelling catheters for a long period of time, says Dr Ghafouri.
The Peninsula
