urinary incontinence

Introduction

involuntary loss of control of urine is a common problem and if it is recurrent becomes a major impact on a person's life and socialisation
urinary continence requires:
- a functional autonomic bladder sphincter
- a functional voluntary sphincter
  - this not only relies upon neural inputs but pelvic floor muscle tone and control

part of the flight or fight sympathetic reaction
seizures
urinary urgency and urge incontinence
urinary stress incontinence
- post-TURP
- sphincter injury - pelvic fractures, iatrogenic from surgery, radiation therapy, obstetric injury /mutiple vaginal deliveries
- vascular disease
- pelvic floor insufficiency, age, obesity, frailty
overflow incontinence
terminal dribbling due to urine trapped below the bladder sphincter eg. post-TURP
continuous incontinence due to a fistula