[Early versus delayed physiotherapy in the treatment of post-prostatectomy male urinary incontinence].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the importance of the starting time for pelvic floor physiotherapy in patients with post radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence.


METHODS
Between May 2003 and February 2004 18 patients with the diagnosis of post radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence underwent physiotherapy of the pelvic floor. Each patient received 12 sessions using kinesotherapy and electric stimulation on a weekly basis. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included eight patients that started therapy within the first six months after surgery; Group 2 included 10 patients starting therapy after the sixth post operative month. All patients were evaluated by the pad test and number of incontinence pads per day.


RESULTS
Evaluating pad tests before and after treatment, six patients in group 1 had a reduction of the amount of urine leak in comparison to seven patients in group 2. The statistical analysis showed significant differences before and after treatment for both groups (group 1: p = 0.028; group 2: p = 0.018). The evaluation of the number of pads showed: Group 1: all eight patients using pods had a reduction in the number of pads. Group 2: 5 of the eight patients using pads had a reduction and the other three continued using the same number. Statistical analysis comparing the number of pads per day before and after treatment showed a significant difference in group 1 (p = 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of pads per day before and after physiotherapy in group 2, although half of the patients showed a diminishment in the number of pads required after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrate that early indication of physiotherapy for the treatment of post radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence is better than delayed treatment. New works may be developed in the future to confirm our results.
Tarcía Kahihara
Carina
C
Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Santa Casa de Misericordia de São Paulo.
Ferreira
Ubirajora
U
Nardi Pedro
Renato
R
Matheus
Wagner Eduardo
WE
Rodrigues Netto
Nelson
N
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*