Quantifying the effectiveness of rehabilitation for post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: Novel pelvic floor function assessment using M-mode ultrasonography

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to develop a method for evaluating pelvic floor function using M-mode ultrasound imaging and quantify the effectiveness of urinary incontinence rehabilitation. Case presentation: Eight participants aged 66–76 years, with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy, underwent pelvic floor muscle training. Using M-mode ultrasound, we compared bladder base elevation time, length, and speed during pelvic floor muscle contraction. The results showed that four patients recovered urinary continence. Four patients displayed a 38.4%–80.1% reduction in urinary incontinence volume. Bladder elevation time was significantly reduced in all patients. Moreover, elevation speed increased significantly. Bladder base elevation time was 0.1 s in all patients in the acquired urinary continence group. Conclusions: Reducing bladder base elevation time to <0.2 s might be essential to achieve urinary continence. An elevation time of ≥0.3 s indicated significant pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.