Abstract

In 17 women with chronic constipation, and abnormal perineal descent on straining at stool, there was more severe neurogenic damage to the external anal sphincter muscle and to its pudendal innervation in those patients with a long history than in those with a short history. These results suggest that recurrent trauma to the pudendal nerves can occur during perineal descent, and that this can lead to denervation and weakness of the external anal sphincter muscle.