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SummaryAn evaluation has been made of intermittent self-catheterisation (lSC) carried out by 25 paraplegic patients early after injury. The results were compared with those of intermittent catheterisation (IC) done in another 48 paraplegic patients by a catheter team. No significant difference was found regarding the rate of urinary infection or the incidence of urethral trauma. The final outcome of bladder training did not differ significantly between the two groups. Patients on self-catheterisation went home earlier for the weekend. Most patients and their relatives found that self-catheterisation in the early stage was easy to perform and meant a more active participation in bladder training. Early selJ-catheterisation may help to overcome a nursing staff shortage in a busy acute spinal cord injury ward.

SummaryWe report on our results with the intracavernous injection and self-injection of papaverine-phentolamine in a group of spinal cord injury patients with erectile impotence. This technique offers the possibility of achieving a full erection which continues for a few hours and disappears afterwards. In our limited experience no major complications have occurred. If our findings are confirmed, in future, the self-injection technique may become a valuable alternative to implanting a prosthesis in impotent paraplegics and tetraplegics.

Six spinal cord injury patients with chronic prostatitis were reviewed, all of whom had been treated with an indwelling Foley catheter during the phase of spinal shock.The 3 glass urine specimen test, the bladder wash-out test, a study of antibody coated bacteria and urethrography had limited diagnostic value. A specific diagnostic 5 glass specimen test proved to be useful and reliable.Longterm antibiotic treatment was successful in only one patient. Injection of antibiotics into the prostate gland was ineffective in the five patients in whom it was carried out. During a follow up from 1 to 5 years urological complications were rare in all five patients who remained infected.

Summary. Urodynamic investigations carried out on 108 patients with an acute spinal cord injury were reviewed. Both clinical neurological examination and technical urodynamic investigations proved to be of great value in the management of the neuropathic bladder.