Neurogenic vesico-urethral dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy

Routine Screening and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection May Be Justified in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Context: Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy may present with lower urinary tract dysfunction which increases their risk for urinary tract infection (UTI). Whereas few studies reported low prevalence rates of UTI in these patients, several studies documented high prevalence rates. Thus, it appears there is no unanimity about the burden of UTI in affected children and adolescents to justify routine screening and treatment of the infection. This systematic review aims to determine the risk and pooled prevalence rate of UTI in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Evidence Acquisition: Using appropriate descriptors, we searched the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Eligible papers were primary studies published in English language: reporting an association between cerebral palsy and UTI or UTI prevalence in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and healthy comparators, with a clear definition of UTI and cerebral palsy. We assessed the quality of included studies with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and resolved inter-rater discrepancies by consensus. We independently retrieved relevant data from these studies using a preconceived data-extraction form. We analyzed the aggregate data on UTI prevalence in these pediatric patients, using the log odds ratio (OR) at 95% confidence interval as the summary estimate. Results: Of the seven included studies, only two (28.6%) were case-control studies, while five (71.4%) were cross-sectional studies. There was no uniform definition of UTI in these studies. Prevalence rates varied widely from as low as 2.2% to as high as 56.7%. The mean UTI prevalence rate estimated for six of the included studies was 31.8%. The log OR at 95% CI computed for the case-control studies was 10.9 (95% CI: 9.0, 12.9). Conclusions: The prevalence and risk of UTI in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy are significantly high. Routine screening and treatment for UTI may be justified in these pediatric patients. We however recommend more prospective case-control studies to strengthen the current evidence of the high UTI burden in these patients.

Image-guided intrathecal baclofen pump catheter implantation: a technical note and case series

OBJECTIVE

Medically refractory spasticity and dystonia are often alleviated with intrathecal baclofen (ITB) administration through an indwelling catheter inserted in the lumbar spine. In patients with cerebral palsy, however, there is a high incidence of concomitant neuromuscular scoliosis. ITB placement may be technically challenging in those who have severe spinal deformity or who have undergone prior instrumented thoracolumbar fusion. Although prior reports have described drilling through the lumbar fusion mass with a high-speed bur, as well as IT catheter implantation at the foramen magnum or cervical spine, these approaches have notable limitations. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of ITB placement using cone beam CT (CBCT) image guidance to facilitate percutaneous IT catheterization.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected on patients treated between November 2012 and June 2014. In the interventional radiology suite, general anesthesia was induced and the patient was positioned prone. Imaging was performed to identify the optimal trajectory. Percutaneous puncture was performed at an entry site with image-guided placement of a sheathed needle. CBCT provided real-time 2D projections and 3D reconstructions for detailed volumetric imaging. A biopsy drill was passed through the sheath, and subsequently a Tuohy needle was advanced intrathecally. The catheter was threaded cephalad under fluoroscopic visualization. After tip localization and CSF flow were confirmed, the stylet was replaced, the external catheter tubing was wrapped sterilely in a dressing, and the patient was transported to the operating room. After lateral decubitus positioning of the patient, the IT catheter was exposed and connected to the distal abdominal tubing with typical pump placement.

RESULTS

Of 15 patients with Gross Motor Function Classification System Levels IV and V cerebral palsy and instrumented thoracolumbar fusion, 8 had predominantly spasticity, and 7 had mixed spasticity and dystonia. The mean age of patients was 20.1 years (range 13–27 years). Nine patients underwent initial catheter and pump placement, and 6 underwent catheter replacement. The procedure was technically successful, with accurate spinal catheter placement in all patients. The median hospital stay was 4 days (IQR 3–5 days). One patient had an early postoperative urinary tract infection. With a mean follow-up of 25.8 months (median 26, range 18–38 months), no CSF leakage or catheter failure occurred. One late infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (requiring pump explantation) occurred at 4 months, probably secondary to recurrent urinary tract infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Image-guided CBCT navigation resulted in accurate percutaneous placement of the IT catheter for ITB pumps in patients with prior instrumented thoracolumbar fusion. The multimodality approach is an alternate technique that may be used for IT catheter insertion in patients with complex lumbar spine anatomy, extending the potential to provide safe, durable ITB therapy in this population.

Prevalence and Predictors of Urinary Tract Infections among Children with Cerebral Palsy in Makurdi, Nigeria

Background. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are prone to urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods/Objectives. The prevalence and the predictors of UTI among children with CP were compared to age- and sex-matched children without CP at Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Nigeria, from December 2011 to May 2013. Results. The age range was between 2 and 15 years with a mean age of 8.63 ± 3.83 years including 30 males and 22 females. UTI was confirmed in 20 (38.5%) CP children compared to 2 children (3.8%) without CP (P value 0.000). Among CP children, Escherichia coli was the commonest organism isolated in 9 (9/20, 45.0%), Streptococcus faecalis in 4 (20.0%), and Staphylococcus aureus in 3 (15%), while both Proteus spp. and Klebsiella spp. were isolated in 2 children (10.0%) each. Escherichia coli was also found in the 2 children without CP. All the organisms were resistant to cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, and amoxiclav, while they were 100% sensitive to ceftriaxone and the quinolones. In a univariate regression analysis, only moderate to severe gross motor dysfunction predicted the risk of UTI (OR = 54.81, 95% CI, 2.27-1324.00, P value 0.014). Conclusion. Efforts should be put in place to aid mobility among CP children in order to reduce the risk of UTI.

Cerebral palsy, neurogenic bladder, and outcomes of lifetime care

AIM

To determine the prevalence of symptomatic neurogenic bladder (SNB) and social and functional variables in a large sample of people with cerebral palsy (CP).

METHOD

The medical records of 214 individuals (96 females, 118 males) with CP between the years 1990 and 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Individuals with frequency, urgency, or incontinence were assigned Gross Motor Function Classification System levels and underwent cystometrogram/electromyelogram studies. Neurogenic bladders were classified according to the nomenclature of the International Continence Society.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients had hemiplegia, 42 diplegia, 117 quadriplegia, and three dyskinesia. Educational levels ranged from full special education to those with graduate degrees. Thirty-five individuals in our group aged 5 to 66 years had SNB with a prevalence of 16.4%. The median age for the entire population was 9 years 7 months and for those with SNB 12 years 4 months (range 5-57y). Over 80% of individuals who underwent investigation were found to have spastic hyper-reflexic type bladders. Ninety-one percent obtained total continence or major improvement with conservative care. SNB was documented across the lifespan, educational spectrum, and functional level. Upper urinary tract pathology was infrequent.

INTERPRETATION

SNB is a common finding in individuals with CP. In most patients it is readily diagnosed and treated with conservative interventions.

Sacral neuromodulation and lower urinary tract dysfunction in cerebral palsy

Given the emerging role of sacral neuromodulation in treatment of neurogenic voiding dysfunction, the author describes the use of sacral neuromodulation in a patient with voiding dysfunction caused by cerebral palsy (CP). A 45-year-old patient with cerebral palsy presented with progressive complaints of urgency and overflow incontinence and was found to be in retention. She underwent sacral neuromodulation and had complete resolution of her symptoms. The literature of lower urinary tract dysfunction in CP is reviewed. It is concluded that sacral neuromodulation may be a valuable tool in treating storage and voiding disorders associated with CP.

Urodynamic findings in children with cerebral palsy

AIM

More than one-third of children with cerebral palsy are expected to present with dysfunctional voiding symptoms. The voiding dysfunction symptoms of the cerebral palsy patients in the present study were documented.

METHODS

Of the study group, 16 were girls and 20 were boys (mean age: 8.2 years). Children with cerebral palsy were evaluated with urodynamics consisting of flow rate, filling and voiding cystometry, and electromyography findings of the external urethral sphincter to determine lower urinary tract functions. Treatment protocols were based on the urodynamic findings. Anticholinergic agents to reduce uninhibited contractions and to increase bladder capacity were used as a treatment. Clean intermittent catheterization and behavioral modification were used for incomplete emptying.

RESULTS

Of the children, 24 (66.6%) were found to have dysfunctional voiding symptoms. Daytime urinary incontinence (47.2%) and difficulty urinating (44.4%) were the most common symptoms. Urodynamic findings showed that neurogenic detrusor overactivity (involuntary contractions during bladder filling) with a low bladder capacity was present in 17 (47.2%) children, whereas detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was present in four patients (11%). The mean bladder capacity of patients with a neurogenic bladder was 52.2% of the expected capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study concluded that voiding dysfunction was seen in more than half of the children with cerebral palsy, which is a similar result to other published studies. We propose that a rational plan of management of these patients depends on the evaluation of the lower urinary tract dysfunction with urodynamic studies. These children benefit from earlier referral for assessment and treatment.

Bladder function before and after selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy

PURPOSE

Approximately a third of children with cerebral palsy are expected to present with dysfunctional voiding symptoms. Selective dorsal rhizotomy, which is indicated for managing lower extremity spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, also has the potential of affecting bladder function. We evaluate the impact of selective dorsal rhizotomy on bladder function by comparing preoperative and postoperative symptoms, and urodynamic parameters in children undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy for spasticity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed urodynamic studies in 25 boys and 15 girls with a mean age plus or minus standard deviation of 5.43+/-2.1 years who underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy for spasticity at our institution between January 1992 and September 1995. Urodynamics were performed preoperatively only in 22 patients, preoperative and postoperatively in 13, and postoperatively only in 5. Preoperative urodynamic studies were done within 2 weeks of surgery and postoperative studies were done at least 6 months after surgery (mean 1.32+/-0.65 years).

RESULTS

Of the 35 patients with preoperative urodynamic studies total bladder capacity, pressure specific volumes and full resting pressure were abnormal for age in 23 (65.7%). In addition, 17 of the 23 children (74%) were completely asymptomatic. In the group that underwent preoperative and postoperative urodynamic studies there was significant improvement in total bladder capacity (p <0.005) and pressure specific volumes (p <0.005) using the paired Student t test. All children had neurological improvement postoperatively, 5 of 7 (71%) who were incontinent preoperatively became continent and none had deterioration on urodynamics.

CONCLUSIONS

At least half of the children with spastic cerebral palsy have clinically silent bladder dysfunction. Selective dorsal rhizotomy improves spasticity and significantly improves bladder storage characteristics. We propose that urodynamic studies be included in the evaluation of children with spastic cerebral palsy who are possible candidates for selective dorsal rhizotomy to treat lower limb spasticity.

Lack of specificity in electrophysiological identification of lower sacral roots during selective dorsal rhizotomy

The authors investigated the efficacy of anal sphincter electromyography (EMG) in identifying the lower sacral roots during selective dorsal rhizotomy. In nine children undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy for cerebral palsy (CP) spasticity, direct electrical stimulation of the L1-S5 dorsal and ventral roots was performed while monitoring EMG responses from the anal sphincter and lower-extremity muscles. Anal sphincter activation was seen with stimulation of lumbosacral roots at many levels. Stimulation of dorsal and ventral roots gave anal sphincter EMG responses in 100% of the dorsal and ventral roots from L-4 and caudally. Only at the L-1 level did a minority of nerve roots have anal sphincter response to stimulation. Patterns of extremity muscle and sphincter activation specific to the S3-5 roots, namely anal sphincter activation without activation of other muscle groups, were found in only five (22%) of 23 roots stimulated. The pattern of stimulation responses in the majority of S3-5 roots indicated that the pathophysiology of lower-extremity spasticity in CP may involve the anal sphincter and does not spare the lower sacral roots. Thus, this study indicates that electrophysiological mapping alone, without anatomical identification, cannot be used to identify the lower sacral roots during selective dorsal rhizotomy for CP spasticity, and it proposes a model for investigation of associated bowel and bladder symptoms.

Effects of sacral dorsal rhizotomy on bladder function in patients with spastic cerebral palsy

A newly revised operation for controlling spasticity in cerebral palsy patients, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), has the potential to affect bladder function. The goal of this multidisciplinary study is to investigate the potential change in bladder function by characterizing and comparing pre- and post-operative symptoms and bladder function, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in 34 pediatric patients over the age of three with spastic cerebral palsy as the indication for selective dorsal rhizotomy. Video urodynamics were performed in a subset of patients. Almost all patients with quadriplegia were incontinent (8/9) and none were significantly helped with bladder control. Almost half (5/11) of patients with diplegia who failed prior bladder control training were able to gain continence post-operatively. No patient experienced permanent damage to the function of their bladder. In conclusion, selective dorsal rhizotomy using the revised technique of Peacock [Peacock et al. (1987): Pediatr Neurosci 13:61-66.] appears to be safe for spastic cerebral palsy patients' bladder function. It can help decrease symptoms and improve bladder capacity and control in almost half of those symptomatic cerebral palsy patients with diplegia.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction in cerebral palsy

The clinical features and management of 27 children with cerebral palsy referred with symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction were reviewed. The mean age at referral was 9.9 years. Daytime urinary incontinence was the commonest presenting symptom. Videourodynamic studies were abnormal in 23 patients (85%). Only two children had evidence of upper renal tract damage. Treatment was determined by urodynamic findings, and led to improvement in symptoms in all patients for whom there was follow up information. Urinary incontinence may be improved or cured in children with cerebral palsy. These children would therefore benefit from early referral for assessment and treatment.