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Objective To assess the eÂects of three types of apicalResults Continence was achieved in 93% overall, with 90%, 93% and 99% achieving continence in Groups dissection on urinary continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy and to evaluate possible contributing 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean time to continence was 68 days overall, taking 100, 52 and 30 days for factors, e.g. preservation of the bladder neck and preprostatic sphincter, age, anastomotic strictures, previous the respective groups. Twenty patients (7%) did not achieve full continence; 15 had minor incontinence transurethral resection and nerve-sparing surgery. Patients and methods Having undergone one of three and five severe, with none of the latter being in Group 3. The group (preservation of external sphincter), age types of apical dissection, 280 patients were evaluated: in Group 1 (sphincter-damaging) 134 patients underand freedom from development of anastomotic strictures were the most important factors both in went the original technique of ligating and transecting the venous complex; in Group 2 (sphincter-repairing), regaining continence and decreasing the time to continence. 76 patients had the venous complex with part of striated sphincter incorporated within anastomoticConclusions Preservation of as much as possible of the normal anatomy of the sphincter mechanisms and suture(s); and in Group 3 (sphincter-preserving), 70 patients had the venous complex alone ligated using their nerve supplies results in an excellent return to continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy. the 'bunching' technique of Myers. The outcome was analysed for the number becoming continent and the Keywords Prostatectomy, urinary continence, prostatic neoplasms time to continence. series (as for Group 1, see below); one, after performing