ExMI vs. Biofeedback PFMT for Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence

Overview

This study looks at whether adding a non-invasive magnetic stimulation treatment to standard pelvic floor exercises helps men regain bladder control faster after prostate surgery (HoLEP or bipolar enucleation). Some men experience temporary urine leakage after this type of surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either pelvic floor muscle exercises alone, or pelvic floor muscle exercises combined with magnetic stimulation sessions using a specialized chair. Researchers will measure how long it takes for bladder control to return, how much urine leakage occurs, and how each treatment affects participants' quality of life over 6 months of follow-up.

This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial conducted at the outpatient urology clinic of Tanta University Hospital evaluating the effect of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (ExMI) added to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) versus biofeedback-assisted PFMT alone on recovery of urinary continence following Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) or Bipolar Enucleation of the Prostate (BipoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A total of 100 male patients aged 50 years or older who develop postoperative stress-predominant urinary incontinence after catheter removal will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to Group 1 (electromagnetic pelvic floor stimulation, n=50) or Group 2 (biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training, n=50). All participants will receive supervised PFMT consisting of three daily sessions (10 slow contractions of 5-10 seconds and 10 rapid contractions per session) for 12 weeks postoperatively. Group 1 will additionally receive extracorporeal magnetic stimulation using a magnetic chair device, twice weekly for 20-30 minutes per session over 6-8 weeks, at an intensity adjusted to patient tolerance, aiming to induce repetitive pelvic floor muscle contraction and pudendal nerve stimulation. Continence status will be assessed after catheter removal and at follow-up visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively, using pad count, 24-hour pad weight testing, the ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire, and quality-of-life scoring. Continence will be defined as no pad use, or use of one security pad with no significant leakage. The primary outcome is time to recovery of urinary continence. Secondary outcomes include reduction in pad usage, improvement in 24-hour pad test results, improvement in ICIQ-UI SF score, quality-of-life improvement, and treatment-related adverse events.