Managing bowel and bladder impairments in sacral chordoma patients: a case-based approach

Chordomas are primary bone tumors that occur in the axial spine and most commonly in the sacrum. Because of their location, chordomas can affect bowel and bladder continence resulting in either an upper or a lower motor neuron functional pattern. We present two cases describing chordoma’s impact on bowel and bladder function and the management plan used for improvement. The accurate identification of an upper or lower motor neuron pattern in the setting of chordoma aims to significantly improve management of bowel and bladder impairment.