What is a primary symptom of overflow incontinence associated with detrusor atony?

Overflow incontinence associated with detrusor atony is characterized by the inability of the bladder to empty completely, leading to excessive urine retention. When the bladder becomes overly full, it can stretch and cause pressure to leak urine involuntarily. This leakage often occurs even when the individual is not actively attempting to urinate, highlighting the significance of bladder distention in this condition.

In this case, the symptom of bladder distension with leakage at rest is a direct reflection of the failure of the detrusor muscle to contract effectively, resulting in overflow and involuntary loss of urine. This contrasts with other types of urinary incontinence where urgency or frequency of urination might be prominent, but in overflow incontinence, the primary issue is the excessive retention and consequent leakage due to the inability of the bladder to expel urine effectively.