The surgical management of upper tract stone disease among spinal cord-injured patients

Study Design — Retrospective cohort study, using linked, population-based health-care data.

Objectives — To describe the incidence, management and outcomes of surgically treated kidney stones after spinal cord injury (SCI). To evaluate the impact of a past history of kidney stones on the occurrence of kidney stones.

Setting — Ontario, Canada.

Methods — A total of 5121 patients were followed a median of 4 years after an incident SCI (occurring between 2002 and 2011). The primary outcome was surgical intervention for upper tract kidney stones.

Results — In follow-up, 66 patients (1.3%) had 89 episodes of surgically treated kidney stones. Treatments included: ureteroscopic lithotripsy (34%), ureteral stent/percutaneous nephrostomy (30%), shockwave lithotripsy (19%) or percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (17%). Following stone treatment, the 30-day mortality rate was low, and the 30-day admission rate to an intensive care unit was 12%. A history of surgically treated kidney stones before SCI (compared with no such history) was associated with a higher risk of kidney stones after SCI (27 vs 3 per 1000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio 14.74, 95% confidence interval 5.69–38.22).

Conclusion — During intermediate follow-up after SCI, surgically treated upper tract kidney stones occur in 1.3% of patients. Ureteroscopy with lithotripsy is the most common treatment. A history of surgically managed kidney stones before SCI portends a higher risk of stones after SCI.