Abnormalities in central and peripheral nerve conduction in patients with anorectal incontinence.

Thirty women with idiopathic anorectal incontinence were investigated by nerve conduction studies. Twenty-two (73%) patients had abnormal nerve conduction studies. In 7 (23%) of these patients there was conduction delay in the cauda equina between L1 and L4 vertebral levels but in the remainder the distal innervation of the pelvic sphincters was abnormal.