When it comes to diagnosing patients right the first time, urologists, obstetricians, gynecologists, and healthcare professionals who want to improve the services they offer to patients all need to have access to the right testing options for diagnosing specific issues. The same is true when it comes to monitoring the health of the lower urinary system, with urodynamics being the only testing option specifically designed to monitor patient urinary health.

What Is Urodynamics?

Urodynamics refers specifically to the study of how the bladder, urethra, and associated sphincters in the body do their job of storing and releasing urine. Urodynamic testing therefore refers to the set of tests that provide healthcare professionals with valuable information on the health and function of a patient’s urinary system.

Spina bifida patients have unique needs related to urologic care due to the nature of this disease. Here, routine urodynamics care for patients with spina bifida will be discussed.

What is Spina Bifida

Spina bifida¹ is a birth defect that is characterized by the incomplete closing of the backbone and associated membranes around the spinal cord. While the lower back is the most common location for spina bifida, in rare instances children may experience this disorder in the neck or thoracic spine.

The mildest form of spinal bifida is occulta², in which children are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. In this instance, children commonly have a spot on their back where a gap in the spine is located, such as a dimple, dark spot, swelling, or a hairy patch.

Meingocele is more serious than spina bifida occulta, but generally only causes mild problems due to the sac of fluid that is present at the spinal gap.

Urodynamic assessment has become a necessary tool for the evaluation of lower urinary tract dysfunction in children. However, there are subtleties that exist when performing these studies in children relative to adults. As a result, certain adaptations must be made in order to achieve results that are both accurate and reproductive when dealing with pediatric patients. The ways in which urodynamics varies between children and adults will be discussed, as well as the differences that occur during testing.