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Correlations between dynamic urethral profilometry and perivaginal pelvic muscle activity
Author(s) -
Mayer Robert,
Wells Thelma J.,
Brink Carol A.,
Clark Patricia
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6777(1994)13:3<227::aid-nau1930130304>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - medicine , supine position , profilometer , pelvic floor , urinary incontinence , electromyography , urology , stress incontinence , sphincter , orthodontics , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surface roughness , physics , quantum mechanics
Of 208 ambulatory female subjects evaluated for complaints of urinary incontinence, complete history, physical findings, and urodynamic dala were available on 163 patients allowing correlation of measures of perivaginal muscle activity to urcthral profilometry measurement of sphincter strength. Perivaginal measures included pelvic digital exam score as well as vaginal electromyography with a modified perinometer. Urethral profilometry was performed at rest and during pelvic muscle contractions in both supine and standing positions. There was a moderate and significant correlation (r = 0.19 to 0.32) between profilometry measures of voluntary sphincter contractions and perivaginal EMG parameters of endurance peak and area, as well as to the digital lest parameters of pressure and displacement. The correlation values between the vaginal EMG and the Digital Test scale of perivaginal strength were higher (r = 0.28 to 0.74). When the patients with pure stress incontinence were stratified by degrees of incontinence (mild, moderate, severe), urethral profilometry measures were a more accurate indicator of severity of incontinence than measures of perivaginal strength or the degree of bladder neck mobility as measured by the Q‐tip test. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.