1.   The absence of both voluntary contraction of the external sphincter and rectal sensation confirms that patients with complete supraconal lesions lose conscious control of sphincter activity.

2.   Mean amplitude of maximum voluntary contraction was similar in incontinent patients and controls.

3.   Failure to maintain prolonged voluntary anal contraction seems to be critical in our patients.

4.   Furthermore, the clinical outcome seemed also to be related to the length of prolonged voluntary anal contraction achieved by patients.

5.   This consists more often than not in impairement of prolonged voluntary anal contraction.