Log in

The role of clinical neurophysiology in urogynecology

  • Clinical Opinion
  • Published:
International Urogynecology Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Clinical neurophysiological methods remain interesting research tools in urogynecology; their diagnostic role in the individual “pelvic f loor” patient is, however, minor.

Conclusion

The methods are diagnostically useful particularly in patients suspected to have a lesion involving the sphincters or the peripheral sacral nervous system, the diagnosis of which will influence management decisions or have prognostic or medicolegal relevance. Most helpful tests are the concentric needle EMG and bulbocavernosus reflex testing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Snooks SJ, Setchell M, Swash M, Henry MM (1984) Injury to innervations of pelvic floor sphincter musculature in childbirth. Lancet 2(8402):546–550

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith ARB, Hosker GL, Warrell DW (1989) The role of partial denervation of the pelvic floor in aetiology of genitourinary prolapse and stress incontinence of urine. A neurophysiological study. Brit J Obstetr Gynaecol 96:24–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Allen R, Hosker G, Smith A, Warrell D (1990) Pelvic floor damage and childbirth: a neurophysiological study. Brit J Obstet Gynaecol 97:770–779

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Deindl FM, Vodusek DB, Hesse U, Schuessler B (1994) Pelvic floor activity patterns: comparison of nulliparous continent and parous urinary stress incontinent women. A kinesiological study. Brit J Urol 73:413–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Podnar S, Lukanovič A, Vodušek DB (2000) Anal sphincter electromyography after vaginal delivery: Neuropathic insufficiency or normal wear and tear? Neurourol Urodynam 19:249–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gregory WT, Lou J-S, Simmons K et al (2008) Quantitative anal sphincter electromyography in primiparous women with anal incontinence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 198:550

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Vodušek DB (2002) The role of electrophysiology in the evaluation of incontinence and prolapse. Curr Opin Obstet Gyn 14:509–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Vodušek DB, Bemelmans B, Chancellor M et al (1999) 4. Clinical neurophysiology. In: Abrams P, Khoury S, Wein A (eds) Incontinence. First International Consultation on Incontinence, 28 June–1 July 1998, Monaco. Health Publication Ltd., Plymouth, pp 157–195

    Google Scholar 

  9. Podnar S, Vodušek DB, Stälberg E (2002) Standardization of anal sphincter electromyography: comparison of quantitative techniques of anal sphincter electromyography. Muscle Nerve 25:83–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gregory WT, Clark AL, Simmons K, Lou JS (2008) Determining the shape of the turns-amplitude cloud during anal sphincter quantitative EMG. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 19(7):971–976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Vodušek DB, Amarenco G, Podnar S (2009) Clinical neurophysiological tests. In: Abrams P, Cardozo L, Khoury S, Wein A (eds) Incontinence. 4th ed. 4th International Consultation on Incontinence. Health Publication, Paris, pp 523–540

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kenton K, Mueller E, Brubaker L (2011) Continent women have better urethral neuromuscular function than those with stress incontinence. Int Urogynecol J. doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1447-7

  13. Vodušek DB, Fowler CJ (2006) Electromyography. In: Cardozo L, Staskin D (eds) Textbook of female urology and urogynecology, vol 1, 2nd edn. Informa Healthcare, Abingdon, pp 277–288

    Google Scholar 

  14. Barnick CGW, Cardozo LD (1993) Denervation and re-innervation of the urethral sphincter in the aetiology of genuine stress incontinence: an electromyographic study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 100:750–753

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vodušek DB, Fowler CJ (2006) Clinical neurophysiologic conduction studies. In: Cardozo L, Staskin D (eds) Textbook of female urology and urogynecology, vol 1, 2nd edn. Informa Healthcare, Abingdon, pp 289–299

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gunnarsson M, Ahlmann S, Lindstrom S et al (1999) Cortical magnetic stimulation in patients with genuine stress incontinence: correlation with results of pelvic floor exercises. Neurourol Urodynam 18:437–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Podnar S, Gregory WT (2010) Can be sphincter electromiography reference values shared between laboratories? Neurourol Urodyn 29:1387–1392

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cheong DMO, Vaccaro CA, Salanga VD et al (1995) Electrodiagnostic evaluation of fecal incontinence. Muscle Nerve 18:612–619

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ismael SS, Amarenco G, Bayle B, Kerdraon J (2000) Postpartum lumbosacral plexopathy limited to autonomic and perineal manifestations: clinical and electrophysiological study of 19 patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 68:771–773

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) (1999) American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement on anorectal testing techniques. Gastroenterology 116:732–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David B. Vodušek.

Additional information

A related editorial can be found at doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1570-5 and related articles at doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1447-7 and doi:10.1007/s00192-011-1539-4.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vodušek, D.B. The role of clinical neurophysiology in urogynecology. Int Urogynecol J 22, 1473–1477 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-011-1485-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-011-1485-1

Keywords

Navigation