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In individuals with spinal cord injury below T12, the micturation reflex is usually absent and the bladder is flaccid, that is, the muscle wall does not contract. The bladder will will until it overflows and constant dribbling incontinence will occur. This overflow of urine prevents high pressures building up in the bladder, but the incomplete emptying is likely to lead to urine infections, which can cause kidney damage in the long term.
This type of bladder may be successfully managed by draining it regularly and completely using ISC.
Characteristics:
- No feeling of the need to urinate in the case of complete damage.
- Bladder muscle has little or no emptying strength.
- The bladder is often stretched and overfull.
- Residual urine that can lead to incontinence and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
- The pressure in the sphincter muscle is often low, which leads to urine incontinence when pressure in the abdomen increases, for example when coughing, sneezing or during physical exertion.
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