Pudendal nerve in pelvic bone fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Anatomy
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Pelvic ring injuries are severe skeletal injuries, increasing in incidence.
• Associated injuries to pelvic organs and structures significantly impact patient prognosis.
• The pudendal nerve is vulnerable in various pelvic fracture types due to its anatomical course.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of potential pudendal nerve injury in pelvic fractures.
• To analyze anatomical distances relevant to pudendal nerve damage.
• To evaluate the clinical relevance of these findings for assessing fracture severity and sequelae.

Main Methods:

• Assessed 225 pelvic fractures treated between 2007 and 2009.
• Utilized 38 fixed hemipelves to measure the pudendal nerve's course.
• Measured distances from the symphysis pubica to nerve branches.

Main Results:

• Elucidated specific anatomical distances related to the pudendal nerve's pathway.
• Provided data on the nerve's proximity to potential fracture sites.
• Established measurements for evaluating potential nerve compromise.

Conclusions:

• The study identified key anatomical measurements for assessing pudendal nerve injury risk in pelvic fractures.
• Findings contribute to understanding potential late sequelae in the pudendal nerve's innervation region.
• This research aids in evaluating the severity of pelvic fractures concerning neurological damage.