Clinical value of the pudendal somatosensory evoked potential

The pudendal evoked potential was recorded in 126 patients who had presented with various uro-genital complaints. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not there were clinical signs of neurological disease. Group I consisted of 83 patients (66%) who on clinical examination were neurologically normal. In group II there were 43 patients (34%) who had physical signs suggesting underlying neurological pathology. The pudendal evoked potential was abnormal in 10 patients from the group with neurological signs (group II) but only 1 patient from group I (a man who had made an excellent recovery from previous transverse myelitis). The conclusion of this study is that the pudendal evoked potential is of no greater value than the clinical examination in the assessment of patients with uro-genital dysfunction. The recommendation that the potential should be recorded as part of the routine assessment of patients suspected of having a neurogenic disorder of the bladder and sexual function should be reconsidered.