Acute urinary retention and urinary incontinence

Urinary retention, the inability to void voluntarily, is a common urologic condition. Urinary retention can signify serious underlying pathology, often presenting a diagnostic challenge to the emergency physician. While urinary incontinence is not often thought of as an emergency, it can be a presenting symptom of a more emergent problem (i.e. acute cord compression) or urgent condition (i.e. new onset multiple sclerosis). This article reviews the various etiologies of AUR and urinary incontinence, as well as the clinical assessment, management, and disposition of patients presenting to the emergency department with these complaints.