title: Pelvic nerve injury following gynecologic surgery: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and time course of postoperative neuropathy resulting from gynecologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single cohort of 616 female patients undergoing elective gynecologic surgery for benign or malignant conditions at a tertiary care academic medical center underwent a postoperative neurologic evaluation to identify postoperative neuropathy of the lower extremities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen peripheral nerve injuries were observed in 11 patients, making the overall incidence of postoperative neuropathy 1.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.2). Injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous (5), femoral (5), common fibular (1), ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric (1), saphenous (1), and genitofemoral (1) nerves were detected. Complete resolution of neuropathic symptoms occurred in all but 1 patient (91%). Median time to resolution of symptoms was 31.5 days (range, 1 day to 6 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of lower extremity neuropathy attributable to gynecologic operations is low, and these neuropathies resolve in the great majority of cases.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bohrer
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Polston
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*