Failure to obtain durable results with collagen implantation in children with urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We studied the efficacy and durability of injection of glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine collagen for treating urinary incontinence in children.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

From April 1994 to July 1995, 12 boys and 8 girls 4 to 18 years old (mean age 9.5) underwent endoscopically directed collagen injections into the bladder neck. Followup ranged from 9 to 23 months (mean 15.2). The etiology of incontinence included myelodysplasia in 12 patients, exstrophy/epispadias in 4, and epidural abscess, sacral agenesis, imperforate anus and posterior urethral valves in 1 each.

RESULTS

Collagen was injected once in 9 patients, twice in 10 and 3 times in 1. Injected volume ranged from 3 to 18 cc (mean 7.3). Followup urodynamic studies were available for 10 patients. Leak point pressure increased from 28.7 to 34.9 cm. water. One patient (5%) was dry, 5 (25%) had improvement, 10 (50%) had transient improvement for 2 to 90 days (mean 52) and 4 (20%) remained incontinent. Five children underwent bladder neck sling procedures. In 1 patient transient sciatic nerve irritation developed due to gluteal hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The previously reported high success rate of collagen injection for urinary incontinence in children is unsupported by this study. Improvement in continence was temporary or inadequate in the majority of patients. Collagen therapy may only delay the need for surgery for managing organic urinary incontinence in children.