Injectable collagen for type 3 female stress incontinence: the first 50 Australian patients

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Female stress urinary incontinence, particularly type 3, presents a significant challenge, often requiring surgical intervention.
• Previous surgeries for stress urinary incontinence can lead to scar tissue and a poorly functioning urethral sphincter mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and durability of injectable glutaraldehyde cross-linked (GAX) collagen as a treatment for type 3 female stress urinary incontinence.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 50 women with type 3 stress urinary incontinence who had undergone an average of 1.8 prior surgeries.
• GAX collagen (Contigen) was injected periurethrally or transurethrally in a day-case procedure.
• Follow-up ranged from 1 to 21 months (mean 11 months), with top-up injections administered as needed.

Main Results:

• 82% of patients (41 out of 50) achieved successful treatment outcomes.
• 42% were completely cured, and 40% reported significant improvement.
• No allergic reactions or infections occurred; side effects were minor and temporary.

Conclusions:

• Injectable GAX collagen demonstrates promising safety and efficacy for treating type 3 stress urinary incontinence.
• Long-term durability of this treatment requires further investigation through extended follow-up.