PREDICTION OF PYELOCALIECTASIS IN FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Two hundred and fifty spinal cord injury patients were studied on each of two occasions, 12 to 24 months apart, to determine which urological findings could be used to predict the subsequent development of clinically significant pyelocaliectasis. An equation was developed which correctly classified 90% of the patients who remained free of clinically significant pyelocaliectasis and 82% of the patients who subsequently developed clinically significant pyelocaliectasis. The statistically significant risk factors were renal calculi, bladder diverticula and a decrease in effective renal plasma flow. This study suggests that the presence of these risk factors warrants careful monitoring of renal function in these patients and appropriate management of bladder dysfunction.