Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of untreated spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) is unfavorable. Current outcome scales used to assess the effect of surgery or endovascular treatment (EVT) rely largely on patient-reported symptoms and may underestimate actual impairment. Moreover, prognostic factors remain debated and conclusions in the literature are inconsistent. RESEARCH QUESTION: The aim was to quantify urological outcomes after SDAVF embolization using specialized urodynamic testing, compare these objective findings with subjective outcomes derived from traditional scales, and identify prognostic factors associated with unfavorable clinical results. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, all patients underwent EVT as first-line therapy. Clinical status was assessed using Aminoff-Logue scale (ALS), compared with preoperative data, and correlated with angiographic findings. Urodynamic testing was performed to objectively evaluate bladder function. RESULTS: Twent-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Urodynamic testing was performed in 14 (58 %) patients. The most frequent abnormal finding was bladder hyposensitivity (79 %), followed by pathological post-void residual volume (64 %) and elevated bladder capacity (50 %). Six (43 %) patients reported no subjective urological symptoms (ALS = 0); urodynamic testing revealed two or more pathological parameters in all of them. EVT failure and subsequent surgery predicted gait deterioration (p = 0.011) as well as detrusor overactivity (p = 0.001). Symptom duration over one year (p = 0.038) and fistula location above the T9 level (p = 0.021) were negative prognostic factors for bladder function. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a potential underestimation of urological impairment when relying on subjective scales and highlight the need for standardized urodynamic testing. They also emphasize the importance of early treatment of SDAVF.