Pelvic floor physical therapy combined with biofeedback electrical stimulation for postoperative fecal incontinence in children with Hirschsprung’s disease

Table 1 Comparison of baseline data between the two groups

Factors/groups		Combined treatment group	Single treatment group	χ2/t/Z value	P value
Age (year), median (IQR)		3(3.00, 6.50)	3 (3.00, 5.00)	-0.314	0.754
Gender	Male	17	23	0.26	0.61
	Female	8	8
Surgical age, median (IQR)		0.7 (0.46, 2.00)	0.7 (0.42, 1.00)	-0.099	0.921
Symptom duration, median (IQR)		2 (1.00, 2.25)	2 (1.50, 2.50)	-0.296	0.767
Pathological type	Short segment	1	1	-0.513	0.608
	Common type	19	22
	Long segment	5	8

IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 2 Wexner Fecal Incontinence Score[4]

Score/frequency	Never occurred	Occasionally (< 1 time/month)	Sometimes (> 1 time/month, < 1 time/week)	Frequently (≥ 1 time/week)	Daily (≥ 1 time/day)
Solid fecal incontinence	0	1	2	3	4
Liquid fecal incontinence	0	1	2	3	4
Gas incontinence	0	1	2	3	4
Need to alter lifestyle	0	1	2	3	4
Need for protective tools	0	1	2	3	4

Never occurred: Did not occur in the past four weeks; Occasionally occurred: Occurred once in the past four weeks; Sometimes occurred: Occurred more than once in the past four weeks, but less than once per week; Frequently occurred: Occurred more than once per week in the past four weeks, but less than once per day on average; Occurred daily: Occurred once or more per day on average in the past four weeks. Minimum score of 0: No fecal incontinence; Maximum score of 20: Complete fecal incontinence.

Table 3 Comparison of anorectal manometry parameters and Fecal Incontinence Scores between the two groups before treatment, mean ± SD

Factors/groups		Combined treatment group	Single treatment group	χ2/t/Z value	P value
Anorectal manometry parameters	Anal resting pressure (mmHg)	25.44 ± 3.94	24.55 ± 3.04	0.956	0.343
	Initial sensation threshold (mL)	55.40 ± 3.12	54.71 ± 3.93	0.715	0.478
	Defecation sensation threshold (mL)	121.24 ± 10.61	121.58 ± 8.38	-0.131	0.896
	Defecation urgency threshold (mL)	148.44 ± 6.14	148.00 ± 4.36	0.313	0.755
Biofeedback current intensity (mA)		4.20 ± 0.42	4.15 ± 0.51	0.232	0.819
Fecal Incontinence Score		9.56 ± 2.63	9.70 ± 2.22	-0.231	0.818

Table 4 Comparison of anorectal manometry parameters and fecal incontinence scores between the two groups before and after treatment, mean ± SD

Factors/groups			Before treatment	After treatment	t value	P value
Combined treatment group	Anorectal manometry parameters	Anal resting pressure (mmHg)	25.44 ± 3.94	35.08 ± 1.23	-11.662	< 0.001a
		Initial sensation threshold (mL)	55.40 ± 3.12	41.16 ± 2.73	17.156	< 0.001a
		Defecation sensation threshold (mL)	121.24 ± 10.61	101.60 ± 5.82	8.117	< 0.001a
		Defecation urgency threshold (mL)	148.44 ± 6.14	154.00 ± 4.46	-3.606	< 0.001a
	Fecal Incontinence Score		9.56 ± 2.63	4.16 ± 0.94	9.659	< 0.001a
Single treatment group	Anorectal manometry parameters	Anal resting pressure (mmHg)	24.55 ± 3.04	34.45 ± 0.81	-17.514	< 0.001a
		Initial sensation threshold (mL)	54.71 ± 3.93	47.03 ± 2.39	9.303	< 0.001a
		Defecation sensation threshold (mL)	121.58 ± 8.38	110.29 ± 4.89	6.481	< 0.001a
		Defecation urgency threshold (mL)	148.00 ± 4.36	151.42 ± 5.81	-2.622	0.011a
	Fecal Incontinence Score		9.70 ± 2.22	4.90 ± 1.16	10.659	< 0.001a

^aP < 0.05 indicates statistical significance.

Table 5 Comparison of anorectal manometry parameters and fecal incontinence scores between the two groups after treatment, mean ± SD

Factors/groups		Combined treatment group	Single treatment group	χ2/t/Z value	P value
Anorectal manometry parameters	Anal resting pressure (mmHg)	35.08 ± 1.23	34.45 ± 0.81	2.265	0.028a
	Initial sensation threshold (mL)	41.16 ± 2.73	47.03 ± 2.39	-8.577	< 0.001a
	Defecation sensation threshold (mL)	101.60 ± 5.82	110.29 ± 4.89	-6.007	< 0.001a
	Defecation urgency threshold (mL)	154.00 ± 4.46	151.42 ± 5.81	1.803	0.077
Fecal Incontinence Score		4.16 ± 0.94	4.90 ± 1.16	-2.579	0.013a

^aP < 0.05 indicates statistical significance.