Minimally Invasive Interventional Management of Pudendal Neuralgia: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Pain Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects 26% of women globally.
• CPP is multifactorial, including gynecologic, musculoskeletal, and neuropathic causes like pudendal neuralgia.
• Effective CPP management requires comprehensive evaluation and multimodal treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• This review explores current minimally invasive interventional management options for pudendal neuralgia causing CPP.
• Focuses on non-surgical therapeutic approaches.
• Aims to summarize evidence for interventional techniques.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature.
• Analysis of studies on interventional therapies for pudendal neuralgia.
• Evaluation of clinical trials and case reports.

Main Results:

• Pudendal nerve blocks provide pain relief, with variable duration.
• Pulsed radiofrequency ablation offers longer-lasting pain relief than nerve blocks.
• Neuromodulation techniques show promise for refractory cases.

Conclusions:

• Interventional management may benefit patients with pudendal neuralgia.
• Limited randomized controlled trials hinder generalization of findings.
• Further research is needed to establish definitive treatment guidelines.