Assessment of a new bone anchor system for the treatment of female genuinestress incontinence

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the In-Tac bone-anchor system (using shape-memory metal bone anchors, Influence Medical Technologies, Lanes, UK) as a vaginal procedure for the treatment of female genuine stress incontin ence (GSI). Patients and methods Between January 1997 and April 1998, 30 patients with GSI were recruited into the study (age range 36-74 years); patients who had undergone previous failed continence surgery were not: excluded. All patie nts underwent a urodynamic assessment before and 3 months after surgery. Al l In-Tac bone-anchor procedures were performed under general anaesthesia. P atients were reviewed after surgery at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months, and yea rly thereafter. Results The mean (range) operative duration was 42 (20-75) min and the bloo d loss 60 (10-200) mL (median 30). There were no intraoperative complicatio ns and minimal analgesia was required postoperatively. At 6 weeks, 27 patie nts (90%) were subjectively cured. The urodynamic assessment at 3 months re vealed that 22 patients (73%) were objectively cured; at 6 months and one y ear the subjective cure rate was 80%. Conclusion The In-Tac bone-anchor system is simple and safe, the procedure easily learned and the operation brief. It offers promise as an incision-le ss vaginal procedure that may have wide application for the treatment of wo men with GSI. A longer follow-up is needed to fully confirm its durability and effectiveness.