This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Managing Bowel Function After Spinal Cord Injury. Gianna Rodriguez, MD, researcher, discusses Fecal Incontinence.

Gianna Rodriguez, M.D.

Asst. Professor, Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

University of Michigan

In a person with spinal cord injury, fecal incontinence for the majority of the time is caused by severe constipation. The importance of having regular and consistent bowel movements is to prevent severe constipation that may lead to fecal incontinence.

For people who have injuries in the lower part of your spinal cord where, you know, their rectal sphincters in their pelvic floor are lax, they are more prone to fecal incontinence and this is where the importance of regular use of enemas or digital evacuation of stool is most important.

And we suggest that, you know, for these people that they do the enemas either twice a day or do their digital evacuation of stool at least once a day.

Visit https://msktc.org/sci and get the answers you need from experts who conduct innovative and high-quality research, provide patient care, and work to improve the health and overall quality of life for people with spinal cord injury. That’s https://msktc.org/sci.