title: Surgical repair of bilateral levator ani muscles with ultrasound guidance.
abstract: Separation of the levator ani muscles from pubic bone is a common major levator trauma that may occur in vaginal delivery and is associated with pelvic floor dysfunctions. We describe a novel ultrasound-guided technique to repair these muscles. A 33-year-old woman presented with a history of difficult vaginal delivery and complaint of numbness and weakness of the vagina. In evaluation, bilateral levator defects were diagnosed by physical examination, three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. With ultrasound guidance the detached ends of muscles were tagged and sutured to their insertion points at the pubic bone. The patient's normal anatomy was restored with the return to normal pelvic floor tone. A follow-up ultrasound showed restored levator anatomy at 3 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rostaminia
authors.forename: S Abbas
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shobeiri
authors.forename: Lieschen H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Quiroz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional