title: Pelvic reconstruction improves pelvic floor strength in pelvic organ prolapse patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pelvic floor muscle strength after the modified pelvic reconstruction procedure for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assigned to two groups consisting of 37 patients diagnosed with POP and undergoing modified pelvic reconstruction (reconstruction group), and 30 patients admitted to our hospital during the same period for other surgical indications (control group). Vaginal palpation of pelvic floor muscle strength was performed according to the modified Oxford grading system before operating on the two groups and again in the 3(rd) month following surgery for the reconstruction group. A comparative study was performed to evaluate the differences between the two groups and the improvement of pelvic floor muscle strength in the reconstruction group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pelvic floor muscle strength was significantly improved postoperatively when compared with preoperative results in the reconstruction group (t = -17.478, p < 0.001). However, pre- and postoperative muscle strength in the reconstruction group was significantly lower relative to the control group, respectively (χ(2) = 63.293, p < 0.001; χ(2) = 31.550, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified pelvic reconstruction procedure could improve pelvic floor muscle strength in POP patients, which remains lower when compared with the normal population. Pelvic floor muscle strength should be included in the assessment of surgical outcomes in POP.
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tongji University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital of Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yxgll1984@163.com.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: muscle strength; pelvic floor muscle; pelvic organ prolapse; pelvic reconstruction procedure; vaginal palpation