Altered Colorectal Compliance and Anorectal Physiology in Upper and Lower Motor Neurone Spinal Injury May Explain Bowel Symptom Pattern

Colorectal compliance abnormalities may explain gut symptoms: increased RC and SC contributing to constipation in SCI, reduced rectal compliance contributing to fecal incontinence (FI) in LMN-SCI. Reduced resting anal pressure in SCI and reduced anal squeeze pressure in LMN-SCI along with a greater RAIR amplitude reduction may be factors in FI. These co-existing abnormalities may explain symptom overlap, and represent future therapeutic targets to ameliorate neurogenic bowel dysfunction.