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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Detrusor Underactivity Model in Rats by Conus Medullaris Transection

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Published on: August 28, 2020

Functional variability of sacral roots in bladder control.

Lore Carlucci¹, Thomas Wavasseur, Antoine Bénard

¹Service de Neurochirurgie A, Hôpital Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, and Université Bordeaux Ségalen, Bordeaux;

Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine

|October 18, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sacral roots (S-3) are crucial for bladder innervation, but this study reveals significant variability in their function. Other sacral roots (S-2, S-4, S-5) often contribute, highlighting the complexity of bladder control.

Keywords:

neurogenic bladder sacral neuromodulation sacral neurostimulation sacral roots

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Urology
Surgical Electrophysiology

Background:

Sacral roots innervate the lower limbs, perineum, and bladder.
The S-3 sacral root is theoretically linked to bladder innervation.
Clinical variability in sacral root function for bladder control is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional distribution of sacral roots in bladder innervation.
To document the variability in sacral root involvement during bladder control.
To understand the implications for surgical monitoring and neurostimulation.

Main Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 40 patients undergoing sacral root electrophysiological exploration during surgery.
Stimulation of sacral roots to monitor muscular and bladder responses.
Cystomanometry used in conjunction with electrophysiological monitoring.

Main Results:

S-3 roots were involved in bladder innervation in all cases, but exclusively in only 8 out of 40.
Other sacral roots (S-2, S-4, S-5) frequently contributed to bladder function.
Significant horizontal and vertical variability in sacral root functional distribution was observed.

Conclusions:

Sacral root innervation of the bladder demonstrates considerable variability.
Findings have implications for understanding cauda equina syndromes and forensic cases.
Data can guide sacral root monitoring, neurostimulation, and neuromodulation during surgery.