Urodynamics Program

Children can experience a variety of urologic symptoms that may indicate an underlying disorder. The ways in which the bladder, urethra (urinary opening) and sphincter muscles that control the urethra work together can provide significant clues about why your child may be having difficulty staying dry, developing recurring urinary tract infections or experiencing bladder control challenges that may be related to a congenital problem or neurological disorder.

What is urodynamics?

The term “urodynamics” refers to a group of tests and procedures that evaluate how well a child’s body collects, and then releases, urine. Through these tests, the skilled clinicians in the Urodynamics Program at Boston Children’s Hospital diagnose bladder function problems in children. Urodynamics also helps your child’s care team determine the best ways to treat urologic conditions, whether through medication, behavioral therapy, surgery or a combination of approaches.

Our approach to bladder function problems

Boston Children’s Urodynamics team is dedicated to finding answers and developing solutions to many different bladder function problems in children, from the common to the rare and complex. Our specially trained experts have many years of experience working closely with families, referring physicians and other medical professionals, both at Boston Children’s and in the local, regional, national and international communities.

We believe in practicing compassionate, family-centered care, with the goal of helping each child achieve the best possible urologic health and function over the long term. Our program offers families the latest in urodynamics options, including needle electromyography (EMG). This test screens how nerves and muscles connect from brain and bladder by directly measuring the electrical signals that control a muscle and is more accurate than EMG that uses electrodes.