Bladder Reinnervation: Is it Becoming a Reality?

Abstract

Management of neurogenic voiding dysfunction presents a clinical challenge. Traditional therapies such as clean intermittent catheterization and antimuscarinics have saved countless lives. However, a desire remains to normalize the voiding in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries. Bladder reinnervation is a novel surgical technique that shows promise in helping those with spinal cordrelated neurogenic voiding dysfunction. Dr. C. G. Xiao from China was the first to popularize bladder reinnervation through an intradural nerve anastomosis of a lumbar-tosacral nerve. This concept has gained international attention, and attempts to create other somatic-to-autonomic reflex arcs to assist with voluntary voiding have been studied. In this review, we discuss the current state of the literature in this new field.