Long-term nephrostomy in an adult male spinal cord injury patient who had normal upper urinary tracts but developed bilateral hydronephrosis following penile sheath drainage: pyeloplasty and balloon dilatation of ureteropelvic junction proved futile: a case report

This case report discusses a man with a spinal cord injury who developed kidney problems after using a penile sheath for bladder management. The patient experienced bilateral hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidneys) and required a nephrostomy (tube inserted into the kidney to drain urine). Initial surgical attempts to fix the problem were unsuccessful, leading to long-term nephrostomy drainage for the patient.

• 1
  Penile sheath drainage in spinal cord injury patients can lead to hydronephrosis despite normal initial upper urinary tracts.
• 2
  Pyeloplasty and balloon dilatation may be ineffective in treating hydronephrosis caused by neuropathic dysmotility after spinal cord injury.
• 3
  Long-term nephrostomy can be a viable management option for hydronephrosis in spinal cord injury patients when other interventions fail.