Relationship Between Pelvic Angle, Femoral Anteversion, and Hip Muscle Strength Ratios in Bladder-bowel Dysfunction

Bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) is a combination of lower urinary tract (LUT) and bowel dysfunction seen in children over 5 years of age without identifiable or discernible neurological abnormalities. Constipation and fecal incontinence are common bowel dysfunctions. Common lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) symptoms of BBD include dysuria, urgency, urinary frequency, difficulty in initiating urine, daytime incontinence, enuresis, straining, delayed voiding, and urinary retention. Urological conditions such as overactive bladder, underactive bladder and dysfunctional voiding can also be part of BBD. The proper functioning of the bladder, bowel, nerves, pelvic floor muscles and related anatomical structures provides the bowel and LUT function. The pelvic floor is a structure located at the base of the pelvis, consisting of smooth and striated muscle sphincters, endopelvic fascia, connective tissue and ligaments, mucosal and vascular tissues, levator ani and more superficial perineal muscles. It actively supports the pelvic organs (bladder, bowel, uterus) and provides continence. Dysfunction of any structure of the pelvic floor can potentially cause to bladder and bowel dysfunction. The ability of the pelvic floor muscles to perform the correct contraction and relaxation function is also closely related to the position of the pelvis, muscle strength of the hip muscles, and femoral anteversion. The pelvis and lower extremity consist of interconnected closed chain structures. The movement of any link in the chain depends on the movement of the other links. For this reason, disruption of one of the links forming the chain causes a change in the mobility and stability of all mechanically related structures and may affect the optimal force that the pelvic floor muscles can produce. As far as investigators know, there is no study in the literature examining the relationship between BBD and pelvic angle, femoral anteversion angle, femoral internal/external rotation angle ratio and hip muscle strength ratios in children with bladder-bowel dysfunction. Considering the close relationship between pelvis position, hip muscle strength, and femoral anteversion with the pelvic floor, investigators think that this relationship should be evaluated in children with BBD and will contribute to the literature.