Levator Ani Avulsion in Ultrasound Increases Recurrence in Sacrospinous Fixation

Pelvic floor translabial ultrasound (TLUS) can identify levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion and ballooning, which some studies have shown to be possible risk factors for prolapse recurrence. Our group uses TLUS to counsel patients preoperatively. If any of these risk factors exist, we offer sacrocolpopexy over vaginal repair. However, some patients, even though they have these possible risk factors, prefer to undergo vaginal surgery.

The objective of this study was to determine if TLUS LAM avulsion and/or ballooning are risk factors for composite outcome recurrence in patients undergoing sacrospinous ligament fixation for pelvic organ prolapse.

This was a retrospective observational study. All patients with vaginal apical repair with sacrospinous ligament fixation with preoperative TLUS were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and follow-up were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed for composite outcome that included TLUS risk factors, age, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System measurements and stage, and variables with P < 0.1 in the univariate analysis.

Eighty-two patients were included. All patients had symptomatic vaginal bulge; 65.4% had stage III prolapse. Concomitant hysterectomy was performed in 54.3%. Median follow-up was 20 months (interquartile range, 8-35 months); 19.8% had LAM avulsion, and 43.2% had ballooning. Anatomic recurrence rate was 23.5%, symptomatic was 22.2%, and reoperation was 1.2%. The composite recurrence rate was 29.6%. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, unilateral/bilateral avulsion in TLUS was found to be a significant risk factor for composite outcome with an odds ratio of 4.33 (confidence interval, 1.219-15.398; P = 0.023).

Composite outcome of recurrence in our study was 29.6%. Avulsion on TLUS increased the risk of recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse by fourfold.