Pudendal neuralgia is characterized by severe sharp pain along the innervation area of pudendal nerve, which may be worsened when sitting position. Successful pudendal nerve block is crucial to the diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia. Although fluoroscopy-guided pudendal nerve blocks have traditionally been performed, recently ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve blocks were reported. For the long term effect of nerve block, pulsed radiofrequency was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in some reports. We report our successful experiences of three cases using ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nerve Block ; Pudendal Nerve* ; Pudendal Neuralgia*

PURPOSE: The anorectal function after a low anterior resection for rectal cancer recovered progressively by 6 12 months after the operation, but the mechanisms and the recovery process are not well understood. The aim of this study was to correlate postoperative anorectal function after low anterior resection with physiologic parameters. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who underwent a low anterior resection for rectal cancer were studied. The control group was consisted of normal persons. Anorectal physiologic studies were conducted for 6 months postoperatively by using defecographys, anorectal manometry and electomyogram of pudendal nerve. RESULTS: The postoperative anorectal function was gradully improved with time. Defecograms showed that the resting, squeezing, and straining anorectal angles were not significantly increased. Anorectal manometry showed that the threshold volume and the urgency volume were not significantly decreased but the maximal tolerable volume was decreased remarkably. The maximal resting pressure significantly decreased but the maximal squeezing pressure were not. The pudendal nerve electromyograms were not significantly different between the two groups. The patients were divided by based on the anastomosis level. The short anastomosis group showed more impairment in the urgency volume and the maximal resting pressure than that of the long anastomosis group. CONCLUSION: The neorectal volume and the level of anastomosis were important for changes in the anorectal function after a low anterior resecton. Gradual improvement of symptoms resulted from a resected rectal adapted to a neorectal volum.
Humans ; Manometry ; Pudendal Nerve ; Rectal Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) and the relationship with manometric profiles in patients with fecal incontinence. METHOD: A total of 29 patients with fecal incontinence who visited colorectal clinic were recruited. The PNTMLs of 29 patients were compared with those of normal controls (2.03+/-0.39) using one-sample t test. Patients were classified into three groups according to pudendal nerve latency; Group I (normal latency, n=8), group II (unilaterally delayed latency, n=9), group III (bilaterally delayed latency, n=12) and compared with manometric parameters (mean maximal resting pressure, mean maximal squeezing pressure, 1st sense volume, urge sense volume, maximal tolerance volume). RESULTS: The PNTML is 3.83+/-2.19 in right side, 4.57+/-2.19 in left side which are significantly delayed in patients with fecal incontinence compare to that of normal controls, 2.03+/-0.39. (p=0.031 in Rt., p=0.000 in Lt.) Among group I~III, there were no statistically significant differences in the values of mean maximal resting pressure, mean maximal squeezing pressure, 1st sense volume, urge sense volume and maximal tolerance volume. There was no correlation between the PNTML and any of manometric parameters. CONCLUSION: The PNTML is valuable in diagnosing patients with fecal incontinence. It is suggested that combined assessments are necessary to identify the cause of fecal incontinence.
Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Manometry ; Pudendal Nerve

In surgical approaches to the perineum in general and anal region specifically, considering the possible variations of the inferior rectal nerve is important for the surgeon. Normally, the inferior rectal nerve originates as a branch of the pudendal nerve. However, during routine dissection, a variant of the inferior rectal nerve was found where it arose directly from the third sacral nerve ventral ramus (S3). Many cases have described the inferior rectal nerve arising independently from the sacral plexus, most commonly from the fourth sacral nerve root (S4); however, few cases have reported the inferior rectal nerve arising from S3. Herein, we describe a variant of the inferior rectal nerve in which the nerve arises independently from the sacral plexus.
Anal Canal ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; Perineum ; Pudendal Nerve

PURPOSE: Although the pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) is normally used, there is no definite test that accurately reflects the function of the pudendal nerve. This study was undertaken to determine the relative accuracy of the various methods in measuring the function of the pudendal nerve. METHODS: Thirty one female patients (age 51.3+/-15.7) with a defecation disorder (constipation 20, fecal incontinence 11) were evaluated prospectively using a neurophysiologic test and balloon reflex manometry. Five parameters such as the right and left PNTML, anal mucosal electrosensitivity, latency and the amplitude of the rectoanal contractile reflex (RACR) were analyzed statistically for their correlation. RESULTS: There was no significant inter-test correlation among the parameters. However, the intra-test correlations between the parameters such as the right and left PNTML (r=0.9629, P<0.001)/latency and the RACR amplitude (r= -0.3770, P=0.0366) were found to be significant. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of these tests in evaluating the pudendal neuropathy could not be determined. However, because it can be assumed that a measurement of the RACR in addition to RNTML is technically accurate, it there will need to be more study for it to be used as an alternative to a PNTML measurement.
Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Prospective Studies ; Pudendal Nerve* ; Pudendal Neuralgia ; Reflex

We performed anorectal physiologic studies to evaluate the pelvic floor musculature and its innervation in 73 pregnant women(35 primiparous, 38 multiparous) who had been recruited into a study of pudendal nerve damage and its recovery in vaginal delivery as part of a prospective investigation. These women had all delivered by vaginal route with pros terolateral episiotomy. Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency was significantly increased 2~3 days after delivery but substantial recovery occurred in the first 2 months after delivery nearly to the pre-delivery value. Maximum average resting pressure was not affected by delivery. In contrast, maximum average squeeze pressure was decreased significantly 2~3 days after delivery and some recovery occurred in the first 6 months after delivery, which still remained significantly low relative to pre-delivery value. Perineal descent was significantly increased 2~3 days after delivery but substantial recovery occurred in the first 2 months after delivery, which still remained significantly low relative to pre-delivery value and thereafter no significant recovery was found. These results suggest pudendal nerve damage occurrs during vaginal delivery which recovers in the first 2 months after delivery but functional disturbance in pelvic floor sphincter muscuature persists thereafter, and we support avoidance of further vaginal delivery after previous damage to the innervation of pelvic floor sphincter musculature.
Episiotomy ; Female ; Humans ; Pelvic Floor ; Prospective Studies ; Pudendal Nerve*

Sexual impotence from positioning on the fracture table is rare complication. We are reporting a case of pudendal nerve neurapraxia associated with pressure from the perineal post of the fracture table in 42 years old male with hip fracture. Historical reviews and suggestion for prophylactic measures are also reported in this paper.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Pudendal Nerve ; Traction

PURPOSE: Pudendal neuralgia (PN) is a painful and disabling condition, which reduces the quality of life as well. Pudendal nerve infiltrations are essential for the diagnosis and the management of PN. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of finger-guided transvaginal pudendal nerve infiltration (TV-PNI) technique and the ultrasound-guided transgluteal pudendal nerve infiltration (TG-PNI) technique.METHODS: Forty patients who underwent PNI for the diagnosis of PN were evaluated. Thirty-five of these 40 patients, who were diagnosed as PN, underwent a total of 70 further unilateral PNI. All the patients underwent PNI for twice after the first diagnostic PNI, 1 week apart.RESULTS: In the ultrasound (US)-guided TG-PNI group, the success rate was 68.8% (11 of 16) in both “pain in the sitting position” and “pain in the region from the anus to the clitoris.” The success rate of blocks in the US-guided TG-PNI group was 75% (12 of 16) in terms of pain during/after intercourse. In the finger-guided TV-PNI group, the success rate was 84.2% in both “pain in the sitting position” and “pain in the region from the anus to the clitoris.” The success rate of blocks in the fingerguided TV-PNI group was 89.5% (17 of 19) in terms of pain during/after intercourse. There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of the 3 assessed conditions between the 2 groups (P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS: The TV-PNI may be an alternative to US-guidance technique as a safe, simple, effective approach in pudendal nerve blocks.
Anal Canal ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia ; Pelvic Pain ; Pudendal Nerve ; Pudendal Neuralgia ; Quality of Life ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

PURPOSE: We designed this study to evaluate efficacy of sphincter repair and factors influencing in patients with postobstetric fecal incontinence. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (mean age 42 years; range 23~67) undergoing sphincter repair for postobstetric fecal incontinence (mean duration 12 years; range 6 months~46 years) were evaluated prospectively. Preoperatively, standardized interviews, anorectal manometry and measurement of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) were performed. Incontinence was graded according to the Parks' classification: Grade 1 - continence to stool and flatus; Grade 2 - incontinent to flatus, some urgency to stool present but no incontinence; Grade 3 - incontinent to liquid stool; Grade 4 - incontinent to formed stool. Sphincter repair methods were overlap repair of external anal sphincter (EAS) in 4 patients, overlap repair of EAS with anterior levatorplasty in 15 patients, and overlap repair of EAS with anterior levatorplasty and postanal repair in 2 patients. Anorectal manometry at 3 months, and interviews at 3 months and 6 months after sphincter repair were performed again. Patients' satisfaction was classified as excellent, good, fair, and no improvement. RESULTS: Difficulty in first delivery was noticed in 18 patients and history of previous sphincter repair was noticed in 5 patients. Preoperatively, most patients showed high grade incontinence (grade 3 in 13 and grade 4 in 8 patients). After sphincter repair, 18 patients (85.7%) became grade 1 or 2, and 16 patients (76.2%) replied their functional satisfaction excellent or good. There were no difference between the results at 3 months and 6 months. Poor functional outcome was in 2 of 3 patients with bilaterally prolonged preoperative PNTML. Short duration of incontinence and young age at the time of repair favored good results. Previous sphincter repair did not influence the outcome. Postoperatively both anal pressure and high pressure zone length were significantly increased in patients with improved continence Postoperative complications were wound infection in 2 patients and necrosis at the apex of the advancement skin flap in 1 case but these did not influence the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Most postobstetric fecal incontinence can be successfully treated with sphincter repair. Excellent results are expected when the duration of incontinence is short and the patients are young. Pudendal neuropathy seemed to be related to poor outcome.
Anal Canal ; Classification ; Fecal Incontinence* ; Flatulence ; Humans ; Manometry ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Pudendal Nerve ; Pudendal Neuralgia ; Skin ; Wound Infection

The purpose of this study was to classify the spinal nerve compositions of the terminal branches of the lumbosacral plexus, providing data of their participating quantities. Twenty-five sides of the lumbosacral plexus extracted from Korean adult cadavers were used in this study. The iliohypogastric nerve was mostly arisen from L1 (88.2%, thickness L1 0.7 mm). The ilioinguinal nerve was arisen from only L1 (100%, thickness L1 0.6 mm). The genitofemoral nerve was commonly arisen from L1 and L2 (62.5%, thickness L1 0.6 mm, L2 0.7 mm). The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was classified into 4 types, and the most common type was that L2 and L3 composed this nerve (56.0%, thickness L2 0.8 mm, L3 0.4 mm). The femoral nerve was classified into 2 types, and it was usually composed of L2, L3 and L4 (88.0%, thickness L2 1.4 mm, L3 2.7 mm, L4 2.3 mm). The obturator nerve was arisen from L2, L3 and L4 in all cases (100%, thickness L2 0.5 mm, L3 1.3 mm, L4 1.1 mm). The common fibular component of sciatic nerve was mostly arisen from L4, L5, S1 and S2 (84.0%, thickness L4 0.9 mm, L5 2.0 mm, S1 2.1 mm, S2 1.2 mm). The tibial component of sciatic nerve was mainly arisen from L4, L5, S1 and S2 (96.0%, thickness L4 0.9 mm, L5 1.9 mm, S1 2.2 mm, S2 1.9 mm). The superior gluteal nerve was commonly derived from L4, L5 and S1 (56.0%, thickness L4 0.7 mm, L5 1.1 mm, S1 0.9 mm). The inferior gluteal nerve was comprised of L5, S1 and S2 in several cases (54.2%, thickness L5 0.9 mm, S1 1.3 mm, S2 0.8 mm). The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve was composed of S1 and S2 in higher freqeuncy (40.0%, thickness S1 0.9 mm, S2 1.0 mm, S3 0.8 mm). The perforating cutaneous nerve was arisen from S2 and S3 in higher frequency (56.0%, thickness S1 0.7 mm, S2 0.9 mm, S3 1.1 mm). The pudendal nerve was derived from S3 in many cases (52.9%, thickness S3 1.5 mm). These anatomical results may be helpful to predict the spinal nerve root lesions of the lumbosacral plexus.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; Obturator Nerve ; Pudendal Nerve ; Sciatic Nerve ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spinal Nerves