title: Accuracy of measurement of puborectal contraction by perineal ultrasound in patients with faecal incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to determine the accuracy of measurement of puborectal contraction, measured by perineal ultrasound during anal voluntary contraction in patients with incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Puborectalis sling contraction in 32 consecutive patients investigated for faecal incontinence was determined by two examiners on two occasions (four measurements per patient). The examiners were blinded to each other's results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean anterior movement of the puborectalis sling was between 11 and 12 mm for both examiners on both occasions. The global intraclass correlation coefficient for examiners and occasions together was 0.92. The absolute agreement on the movement exceeding or not 8 mm was 87.5% (28 of 32), and the corresponding κ statistic was 0.84. The differences between the two experts were minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms the reliability of puborectalis sling contraction measurement and its value as a preoperative predictive tool to assess the prognosis of sphincter repair for postdelivery faecal incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. guillaume.zufferey@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zufferey
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perneger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robert-Yap
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skala
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019160:Endosonography; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results