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Abnormal Electromyographic Activity (Decelerating Burst and Complex Repetitive Discharges) in the Striated Muscle of the Urethral Sphincter in 5 Women with Persisting Urinary Retention
Author(s) -
FOWLER CLARE J.,
KIRBY R. S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1985.tb08988.x
Subject(s) - urethral sphincter , electromyography , striated muscles , medicine , urinary retention , anatomy , sphincter , muscle contraction , muscle relaxation , urology , urethra , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Summary— In five women with urinary retention, recordings from the striated muscle of the urethral sphincter revealed highly abnormal electromyographic (EMG) activity. Using a concentric needle electrode, recordings revealed very striking bursts of activity, referred to here as decelerating burst (DB) and complex repetitive discharges (CRD). Such EMG activity is exceedingly unusual in skeletal striated muscle and resembles most closely the rarely encountered condition of “pseudomyotonia”. We suggest that this abnormal activity is associated with a failure of relaxation of the striated muscle of the urethral sphincter, which results in chronic retention.