American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 5 , Pages 531.e1-531.e7, November 2009

Pelvic nerve injury following gynecologic surgery: a prospective cohort study

Presented at the 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, March 30-April 1, 2009.

  • Justin C. Bohrer, MD

      Affiliations

    • OB/GYN & Women's Health Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
    • ,
  • Mark D. Walters, MD

      Affiliations

    • OB/GYN & Women's Health Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
    • ,
  • Amy Park, MD

      Affiliations

    • OB/GYN & Women's Health Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
    • ,
  • David Polston, MD

      Affiliations

    • Neurologic Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
    • ,
  • Matthew D. Barber, MD, MHS

      Affiliations

    • OB/GYN & Women's Health Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Received 28 December 2008; received in revised form 13 May 2009; accepted 7 July 2009. published online 18 September 2009.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and time course of postoperative neuropathy resulting from gynecologic surgery.

Study Design

A single cohort of 616 female patients undergoing elective gynecologic surgery for benign or malignant conditions at a tertiary care academic medical center underwent a postoperative neurologic evaluation to identify postoperative neuropathy of the lower extremities.

Results

Fourteen peripheral nerve injuries were observed in 11 patients, making the overall incidence of postoperative neuropathy 1.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.0–3.2). Injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous (5), femoral (5), common fibular (1), ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric (1), saphenous (1), and genitofemoral (1) nerves were detected. Complete resolution of neuropathic symptoms occurred in all but 1 patient (91%). Median time to resolution of symptoms was 31.5 days (range, 1 day to 6 months).

Conclusion

The incidence of lower extremity neuropathy attributable to gynecologic operations is low, and these neuropathies resolve in the great majority of cases.

Key words: gynecologic surgery, nerve injury, neuropathy, postoperative complication

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 Reprints not available from the author.

 Cite this article as: Bohrer JC, Walters MD, Park A, et al. Pelvic nerve injury following gynecologic surgery: a prospective cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:531.e1-7.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00787-X

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.07.023

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 5 , Pages 531.e1-531.e7, November 2009

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