Objective
To reveal the usefulness of abdominal computerized tomography (CT) for the detection of complicated and uncomplicated upper urinary tract infection (UTI)s in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).Method: Twenty-two patients with SCI were included in this study. They had UTIs with persistent high fever despite conservative treatments. In all patients, abdominal CT was performed.Results: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) with or without complications was detected in 13 patients (59.1%). Four patients were accompanied with complications, 1 perirenal abscess, 1 renal and perirenal abscess with staghorn stone, 1 urosepsis with renal abscess and 1 urosepsis. Simple nephrectomy was performed in a patient with perirenal and renal abscesses with a staghorn stone. Percutaneous abscess drainage was performed in one patient with perirenal abscess. They all recovered without further complications.Conclusion: Abdominal CT should be considered to detect uncomplicated and complicated upper UTIs in SCI patients who present persistent UTI symptoms despite conservative treatments. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2004; 28: 140- 145)
