Surgery of the pudendal nerve in various types of perineal pain: course and results

In 1989, we reported our thoughts on the neurophysiological and anatomic aspects of pudendal nerve involvement in certain types of perinal pain. Since that time, the surgical approach has been modified. Here we report our follow-up of 40 patients with 48 operated nerves. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 7 years and outcome revealed improvement in 67% and no change in 33%. Thus surgery had been useful in two-thirds of the cases; in 44% of the patients, there was either a frank improvement or no change. Early diagnosis appears to be the determining factor in improving results. Operating for the canal syndrome must be performed before lesions to the nervous trunk become too important.