Pelvic nerve injury following gynecologic surgery: a prospective cohort study.

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.