Chronic pelvic pain of unknown origin may be caused by loose uterosacral ligaments failing to support pelvic nerve plexuses - a critical review

A gynecological perspective of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome may offer cure in selected cases

Introduction

Recent publications of interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome cure by a gynecological prolapse protocol, run counter to traditional treatments such as bladder installations which do not offer such cure. The prolapse protocol, uterosacral ligament (USL) repair, is based on the 'Posterior Fornix Syndrome' (PFS). PFS was described in the 1993 iteration of the Integral Theory. PFS comprises predictably co-occurring symptoms of frequency, urgency, nocturia, chronic pelvic pain, abnormal emptying and post-void residual urine, caused by USL laxity and cured or improved by repair thereof.

Material and methods

analysis and interpretation of published data showing cure of IC by USL repair.

Results

In many women, USL pathogenesis of IC can be explained by the effect of weak or loose USLs weakening two pelvic muscles which contract against them, levator plate (LP) and conjoint longitudinal muscle of the anus (LMA). The now weakened pelvic muscles cannot stretch the vagina sufficiently to prevent afferent impulses from urothelial stretch receptors 'N' reaching the micturition centre where they are interpreted as urge. The same unsupported USLs cannot support the visceral sympathetic/parasympathetic visceral autonomic nerve plexuses (VP). The pathway of multiple referred pelvic pains is explained as follows: groups of afferent VP axons stimulated by gravity or muscle movements fire off 'rogue' impulses, which are interpreted by the cortex as end-organ chronic pelvic pain (CPP) from several end organs; this explains how CPP is invariably perceived in several sites. Reports of cure of non-Hunner's and Hunner's IC are analysed with diagrams which explain co-occurrence of IC with urge and phenotypes of chronic pelvic pain from several different sites.

Conclusions

A gynecological schema cannot explain all IC phenotypes, especially male IC. However, for those women who obtain relief from the predictive speculum test, there is a significant possibility of cure of both the pain and the urge by uterosacral ligament repair. In this context, it may well be in such female patients' interests, at least in the exploratory diagnostic phase, for ICS/BPS to be subsumed into the PFS disease category. It would give such women a significant chance of cure, something denied to them for now.

Tissue Fixation System ligament repair cures major pelvic organ prolapse in ageing women with minimal complications - a 10-year Japanese experience in 960 women

INTRODUCTION

Japan's ageing crisis has brought major prolapse and incontinence problems. We hypothesized the problem was collagen leaching out of ligaments which support organs and could be corrected by the TFS (Tissue Fixation System) minisling which uses 7 mm wide tapes to create new collagen for ligament reinforcement.We analysed our 10-year experience (2009-2019) with TFS minisling prolapse repair with regard to one main question: "Is this technology of benefit to the ageing Japanese population?".

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis from two tertiary referral units; 3100 tapes were implanted (variously) into cardinal, uterosacral, arcus tendineus fascia pelvis (ATFP), perineal body ligaments of 960 Japanese women (mean age 69.6 years), to repair POPQ 3rd or 4th degree prolapse (918/960), 50% under local anesthesia/sedation, remainder general/spinal anesthesia.

RESULTS

Patient discharge within 24 hours indicated minimal intra-operative problems. Prolapse cure at 12 months reached 90%. Complications requiring intervention were infected rectal perforation by tape, 3 delayed ileus complications. Eroded tapes (2.4-3.5%) were trimmed in the clinic. De novo long-term pain and major urine loss were virtually absent.

CONCLUSIONS

The TFS system works by restoring ligament support (pubourethral, ATFP, cardinal, uterosacral, perineal body), differently from mesh sheets which work by blocking organ descent, which can lead to fibrosis of the vagina, and may cause chronic pain and massive incontinence. We had no such problems, because tapes have small volume, are applied transversely, with little vaginal contact. Specific ligament reinforcement with collagenopoietic tapes seems to be an important new direction for aged women with major prolapse, with high cure rate, acceptable complications, low erosions and virtually no long-term pain.