Reducing Urine Leakage After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy : Pelvic Floor Exercises, Magnetic Innervation or No Treatment? A Quasi-Experimental Study

BACKGROUND: In Italy, nurses can use pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) and extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) to treat urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The efficacy of these treatments remains unclear. Purpose: To compare PFMEs, ExMI, in the management of post-RRP urinary incontinence. Methodology: This study compared PFMEs versus no treatment in reducing bladder continence difficulties, and PFMEs versus ExMI in reducing urine leakage. A total of 87 patients were treated with PFMEs, 23 with ExMI; 22 refused rehabilitation (control group). FINDINGS: Three months after RRP, both interventions reduced the International Prostate Symptom Score, when compared to control group. After 6 months, no significant differences between the treatments were found (p = .8346). After a complete ExMI treatment (6 weeks), 63.88% lost less than 10 grams of urine per day (32.73% in the PFMEs group, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: PFMEs are useful up to the 3rd month after surgery; ExMI reduces leakages faster than PFMEs.