[Percutaneous needle colposuspension to Cooper's ligament: 63 cases]

To evaluate the feasibility, safety and results of a new procedure of treatment of genuine urinary stress incontinence : needle percutaneous colposuspension to Cooper's ligament.

From June 1994 to December 1995, 63 patients had a needle percutaneous Cooper's ligament colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence (USI). The mean age of the patients was 48 years (range : 32 to 80). Fourteen patients were menopausal (22,2 %). The mean parity was 2,7 (range 0 to 10). According to Blaivas and Olsson classification of USI, 6 patients had type 0, 32 type 1, 22 type 2 and 3 type 3. Fifty-eight patients had preoperative urodynamic control.

The procedure was performed in 63 patients (100%). The mean operative time was 20 minutes (range 15 to 30). Peroperative complication: hemorrhagic in one case (1,5%). Postoperative complication rate was 12,7% including seven urinary infections. The mean follow-up of the patients was 8 months (range: 6 to 17). By subjective parameters, 55 patients were cured (87,3%). Only 38 patients had postoperative urodynamic control including the 8 patients with failure of the procedure. Among these 8 patients, 1 had clinical failure with normal urodynamic control, 2 had vesical instability and 5 had a persistence of USI confirmed by urodynamic control.

Needle percutaneous colposuspension to Cooper's ligament appears as feasible and safe technique to cure USI. The interest of this new procedure of colposuspension is its fixation to the Cooper's ligament using the vaginal approach. Preliminary results are good, however longer follow-up is necessary to validate this new technique.