Introduction:
Spinal cord injury (SCI), specifically suprasacral SCI, results in high intravesical pressures, elevated post-void residual and urinary incontinence which are all risk factors for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The management of UTIs usually is conservative medical antibiotic treatment. However, recurrent UTIs in the SCI patient population warrant further investigation. The method of urinary drainage (intermittent or indwelling urinary catheters, urinary diversion) and untreated complications of NLUTD (vesicoureteral reflux, stone formation, chronic incomplete emptying of the bladder) are risk factors for recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). Removal of these UTI risk factors and improving urinary drainage are goals of urologic management; however, when conservative interventions do not succeed, surgery may be a viable solution in select cases of rUTIs.
Case presentation:
We present a case of complicated persisting rUTIs and associated urethral discharge in a middle-aged SCI male who manages his bladder with intermittent catheterization (IC). We detail the evaluation and management approach that leads to an eventual transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) as a final solution for his rUTIs. Fortunately, the surgical intervention was successful, and the patient is free of UTIs after 4 years of follow-up.
Discussion:
In SCI male patients with rUTIs and suspected chronic prostatitis, TURP may be a valuable treatment option once all predisposing factors have been remediated.