Advancements in the urological care of the spinal cord injury patient during the past 15 years have ameliorated a uniformly grave prognosis for the paraplegic patient. This has been achieved through a technical and tedious course of rehabilitation and therapy in specialized centers. A great deal has been written concerning the care of the individual during the initial and intermediate course, but there is little specific to the chronic stage. Since a greater portion of this care is provided in centers away from the specialized training area, we believe that our observations and views on the more practical aspects of the long-term urological care of these patients will be of interest.
During the first few months after injury, urological care of the spinal cord injury patient is primarily concerned with maintaining an optimum environment for a quick progression to the final stages of a cord-type bladder. This is provided by