Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Differential Diagnoses

1. Coggrave M, Norton C. Neurogenic bowel. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013. 110:221-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. Gor RA, Katorski JR, Elliott SP. Medical and surgical management of neurogenic bowel. Curr Opin Urol. 2016 Jul. 26 (4):369-75. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Rodriguez GM, Gater DR. Neurogenic Bowel and Management after Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review. J Pers Med. 2022 Jul 14. 12 (7):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

4. [Guideline] Beierwaltes P, Church P, Gordon T, Ambartsumyan L. Bowel function and care: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida. J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2020. 13 (4):491-498. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

5. Gulick EE. Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Over the Course of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review. Int J MS Care. 2022 Sep-Oct. 24 (5):209-217. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

6. Ash D. Sustaining safe and acceptable bowel care in spinal cord injured patients. Nurs Stand. 2005 Nov 2-8. 20 (8):55-64, quiz 66. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. Benevento BT, Sipski ML. Neurogenic bladder, neurogenic bowel, and sexual dysfunction in people with spinal cord injury. Phys Ther. 2002 Jun. 82 (6):601-12. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

8. Gurjar SV, Jones OM. Physiology: evacuation, pelvic floor and continence mechanisms. Surgery. 2011 Aug. 29 (8):358-61.

9. Brading A, Ramalingham T. Mechanisms controlling normal defaecation and the potential effects of spinal cord injury. Weaver LC, Polosa C, eds. Autonomic Dysfunction After Spinal Cord Injury: Progress in Brain Research 152. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2006. 345-58.

10. Krogh K, Christensen P. Neurogenic colorectal and pelvic floor dysfunction. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2009. 23 (4):531-43. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. Coggrave M, Norton C. Neurogenic bowel. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013. 110:221-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Pellat GC. Neurogenic continence. Part 1: pathophysiology and quality of ilfe. Br J Nurs. 2008 Jul 10-23. 17 (13):836-41. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Wiesel P, Bell S. Bowel dysfunction: assessment and management in the neurological patient. Bowel Continence Nursing. 2004. 181-203.

14. Johanson JF, Lafferty J. Epidemiology of fecal incontinence: the silent affliction. Am J Gastroenterol. 1996 Jan. 91 (1):33-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Nelson RL. Epidemiology of fecal incontinence. Gastroenterology. 2004 Jan. 126 (1 Suppl 1):S3-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Higgins PD, Johanson JF. Epidemiology of constipation in North America: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr. 99 (4):750-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Krogh K, Nielsen J, Djurhuus JC, Mosdal C, Sabroe S, Laurberg S. Colorectal function in patients with spinal cord lesions. Dis Colon Rectum. 1997 Oct. 40 (10):1233-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Glickman S, Kamm MA. Bowel dysfunction in spinal-cord-injury patients. Lancet. 1996 Jun 15. 347 (9016):1651-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. Hinds JP, Eidelman BH, Wald A. Prevalence of bowel dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. A population survey. Gastroenterology. 1990 Jun. 98 (6):1538-42. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Coggrave M, Norton C, Cody JD. Management of faecal incontinence and constipation in adults with central neurological diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Jan 13. 1:CD002115. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Krogh K, Ostergaard K, Sabroe S, Laurberg S. Clinical aspects of bowel symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurol Scand. 2008 Jan. 117 (1):60-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Doshi VS, Say JH, Young SH, Doraisamy P. Complications in stroke patients: a study carried out at the Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Changi General Hospital. Singapore Med J. 2003 Dec. 44 (12):643-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

23. [Guideline] Duncan PW, Zorowitz R, Bates B, Choi JY, Glasberg JJ, Graham GD, et al. Management of Adult Stroke Rehabilitation Care: a clinical practice guideline. Stroke. 2005 Sep. 36 (9):e100-43. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

24. Sonnenberg A, Tsou VT, Müller AD. The "institutional colon": a frequent colonic dysmotility in psychiatric and neurologic disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1994 Jan. 89 (1):62-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Ozisler Z, Koklu K, Ozel S, Unsal-Delialioglu S. Outcomes of bowel program in spinal cord injury patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Neural Regen Res. 2015 Jul. 10 (7):1153-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

26. Caruana BJ, Wald A, Hinds JP, Eidelman BH. Anorectal sensory and motor function in neurogenic fecal incontinence. Comparison between multiple sclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Gastroenterology. 1991 Feb. 100 (2):465-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

27. Johns JS, Krogh K, Ethans K, Chi J, Querée M, Eng JJ, et al. Pharmacological Management of Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury and Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 22. 10 (4):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

28. Yi Z, Jie C, Wenyi Z, Bin X, Hongzhu J. Comparison of efficacies of vegetable oil based and polyethylene glycol based bisacodyl suppositories in treating patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct. 25 (5):488-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

29. Gordon M, Naidoo K, Akobeng AK, Thomas AG. Cochrane Review: Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipation (Review). Evid Based Child Health. 2013 Jan. 8 (1):57-109. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Coggrave M. Neurogenic continence. Part 3: Bowel management strategies. Br J Nurs. 2008 Aug 14-Sep 10. 17 (15):962-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Levitt M, Peña A. Update on pediatric faecal incontinence. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Feb. 19 (1):1-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

32. Griffin SJ, Parkinson EJ, Malone PS. Bowel management for paediatric patients with faecal incontinence. J Pediatr Urol. 2008 Oct. 4 (5):387-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Mekhael M, Kristensen HØ, Larsen HM, Juul T, Emmanuel A, Krogh K, et al. Transanal Irrigation for Neurogenic Bowel Disease, Low Anterior Resection Syndrome, Faecal Incontinence and Chronic Constipation: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 13. 10 (4):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

34. Ascanelli S, Bombardini C, Chimisso L, Carcoforo P, Turroni S, D'Amico F, et al. Trans-anal irrigation in patients with multiple sclerosis: Efficacy in treating disease-related bowel dysfunctions and impact on the gut microbiota: A monocentric prospective study. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2022 Jul-Sep. 8 (3):20552173221109771. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

35. Kelly MS, Dorgalli C, McLorie G, Khoury AE. Prospective evaluation of Peristeen® transanal irrigation system with the validated neurogenic bowel dysfunction score sheet in the pediatric population. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017 Mar. 36 (3):632-635. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

36. Emmanuel A. Review of the efficacy and safety of transanal irrigation for neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Spinal Cord. 2010 Sep. 48 (9):664-73. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

37. [Guideline] Cotterill N, Madersbacher H, Wyndaele JJ, Apostolidis A, Drake MJ, Gajewski J, et al. Neurogenic bowel dysfunction: Clinical management recommendations of the Neurologic Incontinence Committee of the Fifth International Consultation on Incontinence 2013. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018 Jan. 37 (1):46-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

38. Hoy NY, Metcalfe P, Kiddoo DA. Outcomes following fecal continence procedures in patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction. J Urol. 2013 Jun. 189 (6):2293-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

39. Gstaltner K, Rosen H, Hufgard J, Märk R, Schrei K. Sacral nerve stimulation as an option for the treatment of faecal incontinence in patients suffering from cauda equina syndrome. Spinal Cord. 2008 Sep. 46 (9):644-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

40. Lombardi G, Del Popolo G, Cecconi F, Surrenti E, Macchiarella A. Clinical outcome of sacral neuromodulation in incomplete spinal cord-injured patients suffering from neurogenic bowel dysfunctions. Spinal Cord. 2010 Feb. 48 (2):154-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

41. Rasmussen MM, Kutzenberger J, Krogh K, Zepke F, Bodin C, Domurath B, et al. Sacral anterior root stimulation improves bowel function in subjects with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2015 Apr. 53 (4):297-301. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

42. Christensen P, Andreasen J, Ehlers L. Cost-effectiveness of transanal irrigation versus conservative bowel management for spinal cord injury patients. Spinal Cord. 2009 Feb. 47 (2):138-43. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Juan L Poggio, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; Colon and Rectal Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Cancer Treatment Centers of America; Colon and Rectal Surgeon and General Surgeon, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital and Jeanes Hospital

Juan L Poggio, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, Pennsylvania Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Julie G Grossman, MD Resident Physician in General Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert J Kucejko, MD, MS, MBA Research Fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Hahnemann Hospital

Robert J Kucejko, MD, MS, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, Philadelphia County Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Richard Salcido, MD Chairman, Erdman Professor of Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Richard Salcido, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Medical Association, Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Elizabeth A Moberg-Wolff, MD Medical Director, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Associates

Elizabeth A Moberg-Wolff, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Teresa L Massagli, MD Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine

Teresa L Massagli, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medscape Reference thanks Dawn Sears, MD, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Scott and White Memorial Hospital; and Dan C Cohen, MD, Fellow in Gastroenterology, Scott and White Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, for assistance with the video contribution to this article.

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of
• Print the entire contents of article