Abdominal sacrospinous ligament colposuspension

When an abdominal approach is chosen for repair of pelvic prolapse, a paravaginal repair is often used to correct lateral cystoceles and a retropubic urethropexy to correct genuine stress incontinence. If concomitant vaginal vault prolapse exists, an approach for vaginal vault support, which can be done through the space of Retzius, would be beneficial. We describe an abdominal approach to the sacrospinous ligament.

The space of Retzius is accessed and important anatomic landmarks, including the obturator canal and neurovascular bundle, paravaginal veins, bladder, and ischial spine, are identified. The sacrospinous ligament complex is palpated and exposed. The superior posterolateral vaginal wall is then fixed to the complex. Often a bilateral repair is possible.

Fifty-five women at two centers had abdominal sacrospinous ligament colpopexies for vaginal vault prolapse. All had other repairs for pelvic organ prolapse. No follow-up operations were needed for recurrent vault prolapse, over an average of 23 months follow-up.

An abdominal approach to the sacrospinous ligament complex can be used, providing pelvic reconstruction surgeons with an alternative technique for vaginal vault support when other space-of-Retzius procedures are required.