Asymmetric sphincter innervation is associated with fecal incontinence after anal sphincter trauma during childbirth.

Aims: Functional asymmetry of pelvic floor innervation has been shown to exist in healthy subjects, and has been proposed to be a predictor of increased risk for fecal incontinence in case of trauma. However, this remains to be shown for different clinical conditions such as traumatic childbirth.

Methods: A conventional surface EMG system was used to assess the innervation of the external anal sphincter.