Abstract
The importance of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment for the evaluation of incontinence is well established. However, its role in constipated patients remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of pudendal neuropathy in constipated patients and its correlation with others variables including age, sex, anal pressures, and anal electromyography. RESULTS: From 1988 to 1993, 161 patients with chronic constipation underwent pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment, anal electromyography, and anal manometry. The overall incidence of pudendal neuropathy was 23.6 percent; females and males had a similar incidence (24 percentvs. 23 percent, respectively;P >0.05). Patients over 70 years old had a significantly higher incidence of pudendal neuropathy than did patients under 70 years (37 percentvs. 12 percent, respectively;P<0.01). Patients with paradoxical puborectalis contraction on anal electromyographic assessment had a higher incidence of bilateral neuropathy, paradoxical puborectalis contraction (+)23 percentvs. paradoxical puborectalis contraction (−)8 percent,P<0.05. Patients with pudendal neuropathy also had a higher incidence of decreased motor units potential recruitment than did patients without pudendal neuropathy (31.5 percentvs. 17 percent, respectively;P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment was able to detect unsuspected pudendal neuropathy in 24 percent of patients. This finding correlated with age and with the presence of paradoxical puborectalis contraction but not with manometric anal pressures, motor unit potentials recruitment, or the presence of polyphasia. However, the often espoused relationship between pudendal latency and external sphincter function could not be demonstrated.
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Dr. Vaccaro is a visiting surgeon from the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Italian Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. Cheong is a visiting surgeon from the Department of Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
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Vaccaro, C.A., Cheong, D.M.O., Wexner, S.D. et al. Role of pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment in constipated patients. Dis Colon Rectum 37, 1250–1254 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257791
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257791