Medical Case Reports

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Poliomyelitis: A Case Report with Neurophysiological Evidence

Background: Normal pelvic visceral function depends on the complex interactions of intact somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Living with polio increases the risk of having bladder dysfunction. Urinary problems in polio infection may occur because the pelvic floor and bladder detrusor muscles have been paralyzed by the poliovirus. Neurophysiological tests should include electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies and the evaluation of the sacral reflexes in order to investigate the integrity of the somatic innervation of the pelvic floor muscles and urinary and anal sphincters.

Case Report: This is a case of a 53-year-old South- American man who had a history of poliomyelitis which affected his lower right limb when he was 2-years old. The patient was unable to empty his bladder completely. The aim of this paper is to describe the correlation between pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder symptoms and neurophysiological tests because this concept has not been investigated adequately in literature.

Conclusion: Neurophysiological diagnostic procedures adopted in our study can discern the degree of central and peripheral nervous system damage and confirmed that pelvic floor and detrusor muscles have been paralyzed by the poliovirus, in order to perform a personalized rehabilitation treatment.

Author(s):

Gabriella Fizzotti, Michelangelo Buonocore, Eliana Giambelluca and Antonio Nardone

Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this