A Correlation of Bulbocavernosus Reflex Test and Urodynamic Investigation in the Spinal Cord Injury Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations of neurological level, BCR and urodynamic study (UDS) in the spinal cord injury(SCI) patients, we analyzed the results of BCR and UDS fundings. METHOD: The sujects were twenty-four patients with SCI who were beyond 3 months following the SCI. According to the level of injury, the patients were divided into 3 groups: above T10 level, 7; T10 to L2 level, 8; below L2 level, 9. Electrophysiological BCR test and UDS were performed in all patients. RESULTS: The results showed a significant correlation between the BCR test and level of injury, however there was no correlation between the UDS and level of injury, nor between the detrusor function and BCR test. The results might be from a differential recovery of the somatic and autonomic nervous system. CONCLUSION: As a part of comprehensive evaluation for the bladder function in the SCI patients, we recommend both the bulbocavernosus reflex test and urodynamic study. Further neurophysiological research would be needed to understand the urodynamic findings which did not correlate with the level of SCI.