Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia: can a more specific definition distinguish between patients with and without an underlying neurological disorder?

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if specific definitions of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) might distinguish between individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and those with no underlying neurological disorder (NO ND). SETTING: Single tertiary university SCI center. METHODS: A series of 153 individuals, 81 with traumatic SCI and 72 with NO ND, were prospectively evaluated and included in this study. All individuals underwent a clinical neuro-urological examination, a neurophysiological work-up and a video-urodynamic investigation and were diagnosed with DSD as defined by the International Continence Society (ICS). We determined the DSD grades/types according to the classifications by Yalla (grade 1–3), Blaivas (type 1–3) and Weld (type 1–2). Distribution of the DSD grades/types were compared between SCI and NO ND individuals. Associations between the various DSD grades/types and clinical parameters, such as risk factors for upper urinary tract damage (all individuals) or lower extremity motor scores, SCI injury levels and severity scores (only SCI group), were assessed. RESULTS: The distribution of all DSD types were similar between groups (p > 0.05). None of the DSD classifications allowed risk assessment for upper urinary tract damage. A significant association between DSD type and other clinical parameters could not be found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: None of the investigated DSD definitions can distinguish between patients with SCI and with NO ND. The more complex DSD classifications by Yalla, Blaivas or Weld cannot compete with the ICS binary yes-no definition which is pragmatic and straightforward for managing patients in daily clinical practice. SPONSORSHIP: None.