Short-Term Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy Is Still Based on Patients' Age, Nerve-Sparing Approach, and Surgical-Experience, Despite the Higher-Use of Robotic Surgery in 2022 Compared to 2016 Real-World Results of a Large Rehabilitation Center in Germany

Abstract

Background

Despite constant improvements, incontinence is one of the most relevant and quality-of-life-reducing side effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) and, in addition to patient-specific factors such as age, the experience of the surgeon/center and the surgical technique used play an important role.

Aims

To present current real-world data on short-term incontinence after RP from one of the largest German rehabilitation centers in 2022 and to compare it to the results from the same institution in 2016.

Methods and Results

Retrospective, unicentric, univariate analysis of data from 1394 men after RP in 2022 on admission and discharge from the rehabilitation clinic. Incontinence defined as ≥ 1 pad/day was evaluated by quantitative measuring all day incontinence under a defined graduation and compared to the results of 2016. Totally, 1393 men were available for analysis in 2022 compared to 1390 in 2016. Median age for both cohorts was 66 years with minor differences in preoperative PSA levels. Despite different surgical approaches, no significant change in short-term incontinence rates in 2016 and 2022 were noted at discharge (76.9% vs. 77.9%, p = 0.56). A notable increase in patients with ISUP grade Group 2 and a shift towards robotic surgery were observed in 2022 (45.5%–71%). While nerve sparing led to a significant improvement in continence (p < 0.01), lymphadenectomy and T-stage were not related to any significant increase in short-term incontinence rates. Comparing age groups within the cohort, patients > 69 years exhibited the highest risk of short-term incontinence and least likelihood of regaining continence during rehabilitation (p < 0.01). Men treated at a certified prostate cancer center had significantly (p < 0.01) lower short-term incontinence rates.

Conclusion

Our study shows little improvement in short-term postoperative incontinence rates after RP in Germany in the last 6 years and known risk factors for postoperative incontinence like age, nerve-sparing surgery, and level of experience were reproduced in our analyses. We conclude not only to carefully select but also to counsel patients before being treated for prostate cancer and to strongly advice treatment at certified centers.