title: Uterosacral-cardinal ligament stretching prior to vaginal hysterectomy increases uterine descent: a novel technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of uterosacral-cardinal ligament complex stretching prior to vaginal hysterectomy on uterine descent.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective trial of 25 consecutive women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy. Pre-operative, apical, anterior and posterior wall POP-Q measurements were recorded for each patient before and after uterosacral-cardinal ligament complex stretching during general anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uterosacral-cardinal ligament complex stretching yielded a significant increase in mean stage of uterine and anterior wall descent (2.6 ± 0.6 vs. 3.2 ± 0.6 cm, p<0.001, and 2.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.9 ± 0.8 cm, respectively, p<0.004). There was no significant change in posterior wall prolapse measurements (1.3 ± 0.7 vs. 1.4 ± 0.8 cm, p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uterosacral-cardinal ligament complex stretching prior to vaginal hysterectomy increase uterine descent.
authors.affiliation: Urogynecology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. haimkr@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krissi
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eitan
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldchmit
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peled
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D008022:Ligaments / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*