Posterior musculofascial plate reconstruction promotes early restoration of continence and prevents severe incontinence in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of posterior reconstruction of Denonvilliers' musculofascial plate for restoring urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. A total of 48 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Of them, 23 underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy without posterior reconstruction of Denonvilliers' musculofascial plate (group 1) and 25 underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with posterior reconstruction of Denonvilliers' musculofascial plate (group 2). Patients' demographics were analyzed and continence rates between the two groups at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery were compared. Patients in group 2 had significantly larger prostates than in group 1. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the other patient characteristics. The urinary continence rates were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 at 1, 3 and 12 months after surgery, and the rates of severe incontinence were significantly lower in group 2 at all time-points considered. These findings suggest that posterior reconstruction of Denonvilliers' musculofascial plate helps in restoring early continence and decreasing severe incontinence in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.