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Trabeculation of the bladder occurs from repeated obstructions in the urethra.
With an obstruction, the muscles walls of the bladder have to work harder to move urine past the blockage, leading to a thickening of the muscle walls and a loss of elasticity.
When the muscle walls of the bladder lose their tone, the urine may flow back towards the kidneys, which can lead to infection.
Trabeculation of the bladder affects the amount of urine that the bladder can hold and the way that it empties.
A trabeculated bladder is no longer able to expand when filled with urine and contract when emptied.
A trabeculated bladder can lead to urinary incontinence, infection, and kidney damage.
The leading cause of a trabeculated bladder is a chronic blocked urethra:
blood clots
kidney stones
tumors
diseases of the digestive tract
injuries to the pelvis, such as fracture
disorders of the nervous system
enlarged prostate
Children can be at the most risk of developing trabeculation, largely due to birth defects of the urinary tract.
Men, particularly those over 60, are also at increased risk due to the tendency of the prostate to enlarge.
Treatment is aimed at addressing the blockage that is causing the trabeculated bladder.
The blockage must be removed to prevent the condition from worsening, and to allow the muscles walls to regain their elasticity.
If the elasticity of the bladder wall muscles is lost, it can be difficult to regain.
An ultrasound which can diagnose both the blockage and a trabeculated bladder.
Severe reduction in the elasticity of the bladder wall muscles can cause the urine to flow back up to the kidneys, causing infections.