Rehabilitation therapy and urinary incontinence after radical retropubic prostatectomy. A critical review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the efficacy and evidence-based data in the literature about rehabilitation therapy in patients with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

Materials and methods: An analysis of published full-length papers identified by a Medline search from 1990 through 2004 was carried out. Abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals in the same period of time were also considered.

Results: Efficacy, tolerability and safety of rehabilitation therapy were evaluated, according to the available data in the literature, with special regard to randomized controlled trials in order to define a clear-cut, evidence-based efficacy of this form of therapy.

Conclusions: Rehabilitation therapy is a simple and safe way of managing post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Nonetheless, few randomized controlled studies have been carried out so far to establish its evidence-based efficacy and it is thus not possible to be scientifically sure of its value. It is therefore necessary to undertake well-designed randomized controlled studies, with a large number of patients, a well-matched control group and an adequate follow-up.