Undetected genito-urinary dysfunction in vertebral fractures

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Keene-JS; Goletz-TH; Benson-RC J-Bone-Joint-Surg-Am. 1980 Sep; 62(6): 997-9 Five of fourteen patients admitted with fractures of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae who had normal rectal tone and sacral sensation were subsequently found to have genito-urinary dysfunction. Four patients had a hypotonic bladder documented by cystometrograms. The other patient was impotent from the time of fracture. Since the genito-urinary dysfunction was not detectable by physical examination, thorough urological evaluations are recommended for all patients with fractures of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae, even when rectal tone and sacral sensation are normal.