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Incontinence associated with bilateral lesions of putamen
F W Klutzow1, D F Gleason, H K Lancaster
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester (NY) School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Archives of Neurology
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Bilateral putamen lesions are significantly linked to fecal and urinary incontinence. Postmortem analysis revealed a strong association between these brain lesions and increased incontinence severity.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Incontinence is a common and distressing condition with various potential causes.
- The role of specific brain structures, such as the putamen, in the pathophysiology of incontinence requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between bilateral putamen lesions and the presence and severity of fecal and urinary incontinence.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 1238 postmortem brain examinations.
- Selection of 44 subject cases with bilateral putamen lesions and 44 age- and sex-matched controls without these lesions.
- Grading of lesions (3 grades) and incontinence (5 degrees of severity) for comparative analysis using the chi-squared test.
Main Results:
- 39 of 44 subject cases (88.6%) presented with fecal incontinence versus 12 of 44 controls (27.3%).
- 14 subject cases had severe fecal incontinence (degree 4), absent in controls.
- 43 of 44 subject cases (97.7%) exhibited urinary incontinence compared to 25 of 44 controls (56.8%), with greater severity in the subject group.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral putamen involvement is a significant factor contributing to the occurrence and severity of both fecal and urinary incontinence.
- The findings suggest a critical role for the putamen in continence mechanisms.
- Further research into the neuroanatomical basis of incontinence associated with putamen lesions is warranted.