Detrusor-Urethral Sphincter Dyssynergia

Abstract

Inappropriate contraction or failure of relaxation of either the internal (smooth muscle) or external (striated muscle) urethral sphincter or both coincident with detrusor contraction results in a micturitional disorder known as detrusor-urethral sphincter dyssynergia. Based on our clinical experience with more than 200 spinal cord subjects and serial urodynamic observations on some of these individuals from the time of injury, various grades of dyssynergia (1 to 3) were recognized. The duration and completeness of suprasacral cord injury essentially determined the degree of dyssynergia. Internal sphincter dyssynergia was encountered less often in this group. A review in relation to pathophysiology and management of this micturitional dysfunction is presented.