The relationship between continence and perineal body tone before and after radical prostatectomy: a pilot study

Recent preliminary studies showed that tonic-trophic characteristics of the pelvic muscles are related to postoperative male urinary incontinence. The aim of the current study was to test whether perineal body tone (PBT), evaluated using the Beco perineometer (Perineocaliper), is related to urinary continence recovery after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).

The study population consisted of 48 patients who underwent RALP between January and July 2009. Surgical interventions were performed by a single surgeon and patients were evaluated by a single physiotherapist. All patients were taught pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME). PBT was evaluated in each patient preoperatively, as well 30 days and 3 months after surgery. In addition, patients were evaluated with a 24-hr pad-test and the International Consultation on Incontinence-questionnaire (ICI-Q).

Mean age at surgery was 65.5 years (range 46-63). Twenty-four patients underwent a bilateral nerve-sparing procedure (50%). One-month after surgery, 25 (52.1%) patients were continent while 23 (47.9%) patients were still incontinent. A statistically significant difference in preoperative perineometric measures was observed between continent and incontinent patients (mean 1.36 cm vs. 0.80 cm; P < 0.001). This difference was even more pronounced when comparing postoperative perineometric measures (mean 1.24 cm vs. 0.43 cm; P < 0.001). Evaluation of patients 3 months after surgery showed an increase in perineometric measures (mean increase 0.76 cm). The increase was significantly higher in patients who became continent after 3 months relative to patients who were still incontinent despite PFME (mean perineometric measures 1.45 cm vs. 1.00 cm; P = 0.021).

Our results demonstrate that urinary continence recovery is related to PBT recovery. Further studies are needed to confirm whether perineometric measures may be used as a predictive tool for the risk-stratification of postoperative UI.