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Pudendal nerve recovery after a non-instrumented vaginal delivery

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate pudendal nerve function after a non-instrumented vaginal delivery. Seventeen primiparae women who had had a non-instrumented vaginal delivery were examined 3–5 days and 3 months after delivery. At both assessments pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) was measured. The mean PNTML was found to decrease significantly from 2.64 ms in the first few days after delivery to 1.95 ms 3 months after delivery (P=0.00009). PNTML decreased in all but one of the 17 women during the observation period. Immediately after delivery 9 women (53%) had a pathological high PNTML value, which was normalized 3 months later in all but 1. It was concluded that pudendal nerve function is often impaired immediately after a non-instrumented vaginal delivery, but recovers in most women over a 3-month period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, DK 2600, Glostrup, Denmark

    T. Tetzschner &  G. Lose (Consultant Gynecologist)

  2. Department of Surgery D, Glostrup County Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK 2600, Glostrup, Denmark

    M. Sørensen

  3. Department of Surgery D, Herlev County Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    J. Christiansen

Authors
  1. T. Tetzschner
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  2. M. Sørensen
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  3. G. Lose
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  4. J. Christiansen
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Additional information

Editorial Comment: This study evaluates pudendal nerve function following a non-instrumented vaginal delivery and its relation to urinary and fecal incontinence. It has been established by other investigators that vaginal delivery leads to a prolongation of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) [1,2]. Beyond reconfirming this fact, Tetzschner et al. find that PNTML returns toward normal values approximately 3 months postpartum. Clinically, this translates into the need to question patients regarding urinary or fecal incontinence in the postpartum period, and to consider further evaluation and treatment if the patient remains symptomatic 3 months following delivery.

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Tetzschner, T., Sørensen, M., Lose, G. et al. Pudendal nerve recovery after a non-instrumented vaginal delivery. Int Urogynecol J 7, 102–104 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01902382

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01902382

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