Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of female pelvic floor dysfunction: Correlation with clinical findings

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in surgical planning for females with pelvic floor dysfunction. METHODS: This study included 29 females, 17 nulliparous females considered as control subjects and 12 patients with different varieties of pelvic floor dysfunction. Evaluation included history, clinical examination, and magnetic resonance imaging (static and dynamic). In the symptomatic patients, magnetic resonance imaging was repeated within 6 to 12 months following surgical treatment. RESULTS: Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging added information that changed the management of five symptomatic women. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging depicted a nearly normal pelvic floor in each patient with resolution of symptoms (n = 5), whereas abnormal imaging findings were found in patients with persistent postoperative or de novo complaints (n = 7). CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging can accurately localize pelvic floor defects, evaluate success or failure of surgical procedures, and identify complications. It is essential to consider all pelvic floor compartments as one unit during surgical correction to avoid the appearance or exaggeration of other compartment dysfunction, as magnetic resonance imaging can predict the need for more extensive reconstruction.