Objectives. To determine whether a puboprostatic ligament-sparing technique of prostatic apical dissection provided improved urinary continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Methods. A total of 43 men with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy (standard apical dissection in 25, puboprostatic ligament-sparing technique in 18). Patients were evaluated by independent observer questionnaire to determine their continence status. The questionnaire was tested in a control group of 25 men who had not undergone prostate surgery. The overall continence rate and time to achieve continence was compared between the two surgical groups. In addition, the clinical and pathologic stages and both the rate and location of positive margins were assessed.

Results. Mean patient age and serum prostate-specific antigen values were not significantly different between the two groups. Clinical and pathologic stages were also similar. The mean follow-up period for the puboprostatic ligament-sparing group was 35 weeks compared with 57 weeks for the standard group (P <0.05). The median time until continence was achieved after surgery was significantly shorter (P = 0.01) for the puboprostatic ligament-sparing group than for the standard method (6.5 and 12 weeks, respectively). However, the overall continence rate at 1-year follow-up for the two groups was similar (100% and 94%, respectively). The positive margin rate and location of positive margins were not different with the puboprostatic ligament-sparing technique.

Conclusions. The puboprostatic ligament-sparing technique improves the rapidity of return of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy without significantly enhancing overall continence or interfering with the therapeutic efficacy of the procedure.