Physical Therapy for Women With Obstetric Trauma and Anal Incontinence

TriHealth

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obstetric Trauma; Sphincter Ani Incontinence

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical Therapy (PT) and Behavioral Therapy (BT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01672697

12005-TriHealth

Details and patient eligibility

About

Our primary objective is to determine if physical therapy (PT) and behavioral therapy (BT) in the post-partum period after a vaginal delivery complicated by genital trauma help to improve a woman's quality of life, specifically in regard to anal incontinence. To be able to study this, the investigators need to know how well the muscles of a woman's pelvic floor function after a vaginal delivery and this requires measuring their strength during a pelvic exam. At present, there are no studies that have looked at whether the intervention of PT/BT improves a woman's anal incontinence quality of life after sustaining genital trauma during vaginal deliveries

Full description

This is a prospective trial involving 65 woman who sustained a severe laceration or episiotomy during their first vaginal delivery to determine if postpartum intervention with physical/behavioral therapy improves their quality of life in regard to anal incontinence. The primary outcome measure is functional and based on a change in score of the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQOL) validated questionnaire from baseline (2-weeks after delivery date) to study completion (12-weeks after delivery date). The secondary outcome measure is physiologic and reflects a change in anal sphincter resting tone from baseline to study completion.

After the screening questionnaires to determine eligibility in the study, each study subject will be consented for participation then undergo a baseline physical exam (including pelvic exam and rectal exam) at a range of 2- to 4- weeks after delivery date. In addition, after this initial exam, all women will be randomized immediately to receive (1) no further treatments, or (2) physical and behavioral therapy.

The investigators will study these two groups of women for 24 total weeks after the date of delivery. The intervention group will include patients randomized to receiving PT/BT for 4 weekly sessions after their vaginal delivery and laceration (episiotomy) repair. The control group (no intervention) will include patients randomized to receiving the standard of care (no physical or behavioral therapy) after their vaginal delivery and laceration (episiotomy) repair.

Each group will undergo the baseline testing: a pelvic exam (to measure the strength of your muscles) and anal-rectal manometry (i.e. rectal exam with insertion of a small sensor to measure the strength of your sphincter); and be asked to complete a series of brief questionnaires. These questionnaires will be administered again to both groups at 6-weeks, 12-weeks, and 24-weeks after their delivery date. Study completion physical exams including a repeat pelvic exam and repeat anal-rectal manometry will be conducted at 12-weeks after delivery date.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Primiparous women aged 18 years of older
• Vaginal delivery, vacuum-assisted-vaginal-delivery (VAVD), or forceps-assisted-vaginal-delivery (FAVD) of a neonate of gestational age:
• 27 completed weeks
• Singleton or vaginal delivery of multiple gestation
• Able to read and speak the English language

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to comply with physical therapy or office visits
• Unreliable transportation
• Preexisting neurologic, musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disorder rendering them unable to perform physical therapy requirements
• Cesarean delivery
• History of prior surgery for anorectal incontinence (i.e. sphincteroplasty

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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54 participants in 2 patient groups

Physical & Behavioral Therapy Group

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention Group: Randomized to Physical Therapy (PT) 1. 2-week visit which includes: Demographic Data, Physical Exam, ehavioral Therapy (BT) handouts Functional questionnaires administered Physiologic measurements obtained 2. Follow-up Evaluation-6-week visit PT session #1 Functional questionnaires administered 3. Follow-up Evaluation-8-week visit PT session #2 4. Follow-up Evaluation-10-week visit PT session #3 5. Study Completion Visit-12-week visit Functional questionnaires administered PT session #4 Physiologic measurements Physical Exam 6. Long-term Follow-up-24-weeks Functional questionnaires administered by mail

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical Therapy (PT) and Behavioral Therapy (BT)

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Control Group: 1. Baseline Data obtained at 2-week visit Demographic Data General Physical Exam findings Functional questionnaires administered in person (FIQOL, FISI, SF-12, FSFI, UDI-6, IIQ-7) Physiologic measurements obtained (Vaginal EMG, Anal-rectal manometry) 2. Follow-up Evaluation at 6-week visit Functional questionnaires administered in person at patient's previously scheduled postpartum office visit with primary Ob/Gyn or by mail 3. Study Completion Visit at 12-week visit Functional questionnaires administered Physiologic measurements obtained Physical Exam findings 4. Long-term Follow-up at 24-weeks - Functional questionnaires administered by mail