The Incidence of Lumbosacral Bony Deformities in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Kim, Jun Mo; Kim, Young Ho; Song, Yoon Seob; Kim, Min Eui; Lee, Nam Kyu; Park, Young Ho

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the incidence of lumbosacral bony deformities including occult spina bifida in patients with noninflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) compared to that in control group, and the significance of plain radiography in assessment of CPPS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 1995 and May 1999, 71 men presented for pelviperineal pain and lower urinary tract symptoms eventually led to the diagnosis of noninflammatory CPPS. The mean duration of pain was 21.4 months. The control group consisted with 123 symptom free heathy adults. The plain radiography was performed in both groups, and bony deformities of lumbosacral area were evaluated by one urologist.
RESULTS
The principal pain regions in patients were perineum (45.1%) and scrotum and/or testis (36.6%). The number of patients who complained of obstructive and irritative urinary symptoms were 37 (52.1%) and 29 (40.8%) cases respectively. The incidence of deformities of lumbosacral area in patients (21.1%) was significantly greater than that of control group (9.7%) (P=0.033).
CONCLUSIONS
Higher incidence of lumbosacral bony deformities was found in patients with noninflammatory CPPS than in normal control group. It is suggested that neurophysiologic and radiologic studies will be needed to determine whether deformities of lumbosacral area account for chronic pelvic pain and voiding symptoms in noninflammatory CPPS.