Treatment of Neurogenic Incontinence by Surgery to Cut the Filum Terminale

A Prospective Trial of Division of the Filum Terminale for Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction With a Normal Conus

The target population of this study is children with primary or secondary daytime urinary incontinence, who have failed to improve adequately despite compliance with at least 6 months of standard medical therapy.

The study hypothesis is that patients who under go cutting the filum terminale - the string-like lower end of the spinal cord - will have improved bladder function at 6-month follow up.

Bladder function and its effects on quality of life will be measured before surgery and at 6-month follow up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary or secondary daytime urinary incontinence, persistent over at least 6 months of medical treatment.
• Abnormal urodynamic testing
• Normal conus on magnetic resonance imaging of the spine
• Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Scale score greater than 6 for girls or greater than 9 for boys

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bladder outlet obstruction
• Bladder atony
• Congenital anorectal malformation
• Additional diagnoses independently associated with neurogenic bladder dysfunction
• Encephalopathy precluding reasonable expectation of attainment of continence
• Inability to comply with medical management
• Unwillingness to comply with initial or follow up urodynamic testing