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Durasphere — Carbon-Coated Zirconium Beads

Durasphere is a suspension of carbon-coated zirconium oxide beads in a water-based gel carrier — a bulking agent for female SUI.

Composition​

  • Pyrolytic carbon-coated zirconium dioxide beads (~250–300 μm)
  • Suspended in β-glucan carrier
  • Radiopaque — visible on imaging

Key Concerns​

Two issues have limited its contemporary use:[1][2]

  • Migration to regional (pelvic and inguinal) lymph nodes — reported in multiple series; of unclear long-term significance but a clear marker of particle escape from the injection site
  • De novo urgency: 24.7% — notably higher than competing agents

Current Use​

Largely supplanted by lower-migration, lower-urgency agents (Bulkamid, Macroplastique).

References​

1. Hoe V, Haller B, Yao HH, O'Connell HE. Urethral Bulking Agents for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2021;40(6):1349–1388. doi:10.1002/nau.24696

2. Hussain SM, Bray R. Urethral Bulking Agents for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2019;38(3):887–892. doi:10.1002/nau.23924

See also: Macroplastique.