The importance of uterosacral ligament anatomy in overactive bladder: A preliminary study

To evaluate whether uterosacral ligament (USL) thickness measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was associated with overactive bladder (OAB) in otherwise healthy women.

The study comprised 27 women with OAB and 27 healthy women (control group) who were followed up at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a tertiary referral center. All subjects were evaluated using pelvic MRI to determine the transverse USL thickness. These measurements were compared between the two groups. p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The mean age of women in the OAB and control groups were 43.88±9.36 years and 39.92±5.36 years, respectively. The mean body mass index in the OAB group was 29.77±4.82 kg/m² and 27.49±3.44 kg/m² in the control group. In the comparison of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system stages between the groups, no statistically significant relationship was determined. In the OAB group, the mean right USL thickness was 2.04±0.34 mm, and the mean left USL was 2.04±0.52 mm. In the control group, the mean right USL thickness was 2.17±0.47 mm, and the mean left USL was 2.09±0.51 mm. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of USL thickness between the OAB and control groups (p>0.05).

No previous studies have been identified in the literature that have investigated the relationship between USL thicknesses and urinary incontinence. In the present study, no significant relationship could be demonstrated between right and left USL thicknesses of the OAB and control groups. This was a preliminary study, and further research with larger sample sizes is required to reach a final conclusion.