Fowler Christmas Chapple Syndrome

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a two-staged 2nd-line therapy for therapy-resistant LUTS and fecal incontinence. Currently, the assessment of symptoms at baseline and after stage I is directed towards a discipline related evaluation. The OptiLUTS trial strives for a more holistic approach, taking all pelvic floor dysfunctions into account.
A holistic assessment tool will be developed and SNM-care pathway will be set-up.

Hypothesis / aims of study
Urinary retention is uncommon in young women, and one cause is a primary disorder of urethral sphincter relaxation, characterised by an elevated urethral pressure profile and specific findings in the urethral sphincter EMG (Fowler's Syndrome). Women may present with symptoms of obstructed voiding or complete urinary retention. Clean intermittent self-catheterisation is often painful to perform and currently, the only treatment to show benefit is sacral neuromodulation. This aim of this pilot study is to assess the efficacy of urethral sphincter injections of botulinum toxin, defined as improvement of flow rates by more than 50%, improvement in residual volume and scores on the IPSS questionnaire, and safety, in women with Fowler's Syndrome.
Study design, materials and methods In this open label pilot institutional review board approved study, ten women with a primary disorder of urethral sphincter relaxation (elevated urethral pressure profile (UPP), sphincter volume and abnormal EMG) presenting with obstructed voiding (n=5) or in complete urinary retention (n=5) are recruited from a single tertiary referral centre. Baseline symptoms are being assessed using the IPSS questionnaire, and urinary flow and post-void residual volume were measured. After 2% lidocaine injection, 100U of onabotulinumtoxintypeA is being injected into the striated urethral sphincter, divided on either side, under EMG guidance. Patients are being reviewed at weeks 1, 4 and 10 post-treatment and symptoms are reassessed using the IPSS questionnaire, and urinary flow and post-void residual volume are being measured. The UPP is being repeated at week 4.