Interactive computer games for treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction

We reviewed our experience with a conservative medical program and computer game assisted pelvic floor muscle retraining in patients with voiding dysfunction to substantiate our previous findings that demonstrated improvement and/or cure in a majority of patients, and identify factors that may be associated with unsuccessful treatment.

All patients presenting with symptoms of dysfunctional voiding enrolled in our pelvic floor muscle retraining were examined. Cases were subjectively evaluated for improvement of nocturnal enuresis, diurnal enuresis, constipation, encopresis and incidence of break through urinary tract infection. Patients in whom our initial conservative approach that included our biofeedback program failed were further treated with medication, and outcomes were reviewed as well. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis to identify factors that may predict failure with our program.

During the last 2 years 134 girls and 34 boys were enrolled in the pelvic floor muscle retraining program. Of the patients 160 (95%) were compliant with the program. Mean patient age was 7.6 years (range 4 to 18). The average number of hourly treatment sessions was 4.9 (range 2 to 13). Uroflowmetry and electromyography demonstrated a flattened flow pattern with increased post-void residual volume in 32% of patients, flattened flow pattern with normal post-void residual 47%, staccato flow pattern with increased post-void residual 11% and staccato flow pattern with normal post-void residual 10%. Subjective improvement was demonstrated in 87% (146) of patients, while 13% (22) had no improvement. Statistically significant predictors of failure included bladder capacity less than 60% of predicted volume (p <0.03) and patient noncompliance (p <0.04). Twelve patients who had no improvement with biofeedback were treated with medication and 10 (83%) improved. Multichannel urodynamics or spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained in only 7 (4%) of our patients with no neurological lesion identified by spinal MRI.

A conservative program combined with computer game assisted pelvic floor muscle retraining improves symptoms in most patients with voiding dysfunction. A majority of patients can be treated without medication. However, in a select population of patients with a small capacity bladder in whom biofeedback fails, anticholinergic medication appears to alleviate symptoms. In our experience almost all patients presenting with symptoms of voiding dysfunction can be treated without multichannel urodynamics, spinal MRI or medication.