title: Prospective regenerative medicine therapies for obstetric trauma-induced fecal incontinence.
abstract: Fecal incontinence is a major public health issue that has yet to be adequately addressed. Obstetric trauma and injury to the anal sphincter muscles are the most common cause of fecal incontinence. New therapies are emerging aimed at repair or regeneration of sphincter muscle and restoration of continence. While regenerative medicine offers an attractive option for fecal incontinence there are currently no validated techniques using this approach. Although many challenges are yet to be resolved, the advent of regenerative medicine is likely to offer disruptive technologies to treat and possibly prevent the onset of this devastating condition. This article provides a review on regenerative medicine approaches for treating fecal incontinence and a critique of the current landscape in this area.
authors.affiliation: Applied Biomedical Engineering Group, University College London, 21 University Street, London, WC1E 6JJ, UK.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.forename: Lalit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emmanuel
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
keywords: biomaterials; cell therapy; fecal incontinence; muscle; obstetric trauma; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering