Radical prostatectomy : a focus on urinary continence

Radical prostatectomy is the most commonly recommended treatment for patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and a sufficiently long life expectancy. Radical prostatectomy has three major aims: cancer control, urinary continence and erectile function preservation. Some a priori patient characteristics, such as age, prostate volume and tumor extension, cannot be modified, with a potential negative impact on urinary continence recovery. However, physicians must make every effort to promote the best possible urinary continence recovery rates and quality by modifying and improving all editable elements, such as conservative surgical techniques (i.e. nerve-sparing techniques, urethral length preservation), pelvic floor exercises and drug therapies.