Detrusor inhibition in suprasacral spinal cord injuries: is it due to sympathetic overactivity?

The authors report five patients with detrusor inactivity in suprasacral spinal cord lesions with perineal spasticity. In all of these cases with cervical or high thoracic lesions treatment with an alpha-blocking drug (Phenoxybenzamine) allowed bladder activity to return. These results suggest that the sacral parasympathetic centre is under the inhibitory influence of the sympathetic nervous system.