Prognosis
Nephrolithiasis is a lifelong disease process. The rate of recurrence of nephrolithiasis is 50% at 5 years.[1] The patients at highest risk for recurrence are frequently those who are not compliant with medical therapy and dietary/lifestyle modifications, or where underlying metabolic abnormalities exist. Residual stone fragments from surgery will usually spontaneously pass as long as their size is <4 mm, though there is no significant association between the size of residual stones and subsequent disease progression.[157]
The Return of Kidney Stones (ROKS) nomogram can be used to help to predict the risk of a second kidney stone.[158]
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