Indirect Non-invasive Evaluation of Pudendal Neuropathy

Indirect Non-invasive Evaluation of Pudendal Neuropathy by Dynamic Transperineal Ultrasound in Patients With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Purpose: Pelvic floor is a complex anatomical entity and its neuromuscular assessment is evaluated through electromyography, evoked potentials and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. An innovative approach is the study of pelvic floor through dynamic transperineal ultrasound (DTU). The aim of this study is to evaluate if anterior and posterior displacement of puborectalis muscle, studied by DTU, is a feasible and effective method to diagnose pudendal neuropathy alternatively to conventional St. Marks' glove.

Methods:Patients affected by fecal incontinence (FI) addressed to our referral center of coloproctology at University of Campania were prospectively assessed. After a specialized coloproctology evaluation, each patient with pelviperineal dysfunction was addressed to DTU to determine anterior and posterior displacement of puborectalis muscle, and subsequently a blinded neurophysiologist performed pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment to identify pudendal neuropathy. In order to compare the data, a cohort of 34 healthy volunteers was enrolled.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Fecal Incontinence
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment

Detailed Description

This study is reported according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement for cohort studies. Between January 2008 and December 2016, female patients affected by fecal incontinence (FI) or urinary incontinence referred to our referral center of coloproctology (master of pelvi-perineal rehabilitation and master of coloproctology) at University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" of Naples were prospectively assessed. Inclusion criteria were age ≥16 and symptoms of faecal incontinence or constipation. Exclusion criteria were past history of anorectal or vaginal surgery, history of pelvic radiation or tumors and inability to complete the study protocol. Patients with pelviperineal dysfunction were enrolled in the study (Group A). Clinical symptoms were graded as follows: constipation was evaluated according to the Wexner Scale (0-30), continence was evaluated according to Cleveland Clinic incontinence score (0-20)13-14. The following information were collected: age, symptoms, grading, previous pelvic surgery. In order to compare and analyse the data, a cohort of 34 healthy volunteers was enrolled among students and residents of University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (Group B). The local ethical committee approved the study protocol.

Patients All patients were assessed during a specialized coloproctology evaluation in our teaching Hospital. A clinical examination was performed in all patients and information on bowel function, pregnancies, episiotomy, previous surgery and associated diseases were recorded. A preoperative informed consent was acquired in every case and the physicians explained to the patients the details and the aims of the procedures.

Each patient underwent a DTU by an expert coloproctologist (LB) with great experience of perineal ultrasonography, person in charge of a master of coloproctology and of master of pelvi-perineal rehabilitation at University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" of Naples. Subsequently, all patients underwent PNTML evaluation using the St. Marks glove mounted pudendal nerve stimulator (St. Mark's 13 L40® Dantec Elektronic, Skovlunde, Denmark), performed by a blinded neurophysiologist (FT).

Dynamic Transperineal Ultrasound Voluntary contraction of the perineum and of the PR muscle leads to a shortening of the PR muscle itself. The anal canal moves in the direction of the pubic bone and diminishes the anorectal angle. In contrast, relaxation of the PR muscle, which occurs while attempting defecation, lengthens the PRS and opens the anorectal angle. Contraction and relaxation of the PR muscle can be measured with DTU. DTU, in fact, is a morphological and functional procedure assessing puborectal function. It is cheap, feasible, well tolerated and reproducible. The patient is placed in the dorsal lithotomy position, with hips flexed and abducted, and a 3-6 MHz conventional convex transducer and field of view at least 70° positioned on the perineum between the mons pubis and the anal margin. In the mid-sagittal plane, all anatomical structures (bladder, urethra, vaginal walls, anal canal and rectum) between the posterior surface of the symphysis pubis and the posterior part of the levator ani are visualized3. [Figure 1] The probe is progressively inclined until the anal sphincter is visible. Changing application pressure and probe inclination, allows to scan the entire anal canal in transversal section. After the sphincter identification, a further longitudinal image obtained with a 90° rotation of the scanning plane allows to observe the PR sling behind the rectum.

The first caliper is placed on the anterior border of the PR in resting position; the second one is placed on the anterior border of PR in straining or squeezing position in order to respectively obtain the measure AD or the PD.

In healthy patients, the AD should be more than 7mm during squeezing and the PD more than 6mm, during straining.

Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency is an affordable technique to evaluate anal sphincter innervation; it reflects the conduction velocity of the fastest motor nerve fiber supplying the anal sphincter.

In order to execute the examination a glove-mounted electrode (St. Mark's 13 L40® Dantec Elektronic, Skovlunde, Denmark) is used to measure pudendal nerve conduction time.

It is inserted into the anal canal with patients laying in Sims position. Both right and left pudendal nerves are stimulated using a pulse of 50 V, for 0.1 ms at a rate of 1 pulse per second over the ischial spines until a reproducible latency is obtained.

We selected the shortest reproducible latency recorded for each patient according to the neurophysiologist opinion. Prolonged PNTML was defined as greater than or equal to 2.2 ms.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 68

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Napoli, Italy, 80131
    • University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

patients affected by fecal incontinence (FI) or urinary incontinence to our referral center of coloproctology (master of pelvi-perineal rehabilitation and master of coloproctology) at University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" of Naples were prospectively assessed.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥16
• symptoms of faecal incontinence

Exclusion Criteria:

• past history of anorectal or vaginal surgery
• history of pelvic radiation or tumors -inability to complete the study protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Pathologic Group; Patients affected by Fecal Incontinence	Device: Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment; After a specialized coloproctology evaluation, each patient with pelviperineal dysfunction was addressed to dynamic transperineal ultrasound to determine anterior and posterior displacement of puborectalis muscle, and subsequently a blinded neurophysiologist performed pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment to identify pudendal neuropathy.; Other Names: Dynamic transperineal Ultrasound
Control Group; Healty volunteers cohort	Device: Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment; After a specialized coloproctology evaluation, each patient with pelviperineal dysfunction was addressed to dynamic transperineal ultrasound to determine anterior and posterior displacement of puborectalis muscle, and subsequently a blinded neurophysiologist performed pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment to identify pudendal neuropathy.; Other Names: Dynamic transperineal Ultrasound

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Concordance between pudendal nerve motor latency and dynamic transperineal ultrasound for the evaluation of pudendal neuropathy	Concordanace between pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (the actual gold standard in the evaluation of pudendal neuropathy, expressed in ms) and puborectalis displacement (expressed in mm) analysed by dynamic transperineal ultrasound for the evaluation of pudendal neuropathy in gruop of patients affected by fecal incontince. The data will be compared to the results obtained in a cohort of healty volunteers	3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Luigi Brusciano, Prof, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Brusciano L, Gambardella C, Roche B, Tolone S, Romano RM, Tuccillo F, Del Genio G, Terracciano G, Gualtieri G, Docimo L. Dynamic transperineal ultrasonography correlates with prolonged pudendal nerve latency in female with fecal incontinence. Updates Surg. 2020 Dec;72(4):1187-1194. doi: 10.1007/s13304-020-00838-y. Epub 2020 Jun 28.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Anticipated): February 15, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 27, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 1, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 2, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2019
• Last Verified: April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: fecal incontinence; pudendal neuropthy; pudendal nerve terminal motor latency
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuralgia; Intestinal Diseases; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Rectal Diseases; Fecal Incontinence; Pudendal Neuralgia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 229/19

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: There is not a plan to make IPD available

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No