Restoring bladder function using motor and sensory nerve transfers: a cadaveric feasibility study

Objective: Bladder dysfunction after nerve injury has a variable presentation, and extent of injury determines whether the bladder is spastic or atonic. The authors have proposed a series of 3 nerve transfers for functional innervation of the detrusor muscle and external urethral sphincter, along with sensory innervation to the genital dermatome. These transfers are applicable to only cases with low spinal segment injuries (sacral nerve root function is lost) and largely preserved lumbar function. Transfer of the posterior branch of the obturator nerve to the vesical branch of the pelvic nerve provides a feasible mechanism for patients to initiate detrusor contraction by thigh adduction. External urethra innervation (motor and sensory) may be accomplished by transfer of the vastus medialis nerve to the pudendal nerve. The sensory component of the pudendal nerve to the genitalia may be further enhanced by transfer of the saphenous nerve (sensory) to the pudendal nerve. The main limitations of coapting the nerve donors to their intrapelvic targets are the bifurcation or arborization points of the parent nerve. To ensure that the donor nerves had sufficient length and diameter, the authors sought to measure these parameters.

Methods: Twenty-six pelvic and anterior thigh regions were dissected in 13 female cadavers. After the graft and donor sites were clearly exposed and the branches identified, the donor nerves were cut at suitable distal sites and then moved into the pelvis for tensionless anastomosis. Diameters were measured with calipers.

Results: The obturator nerve was bifurcated a mean ± SD (range) of 5.5 ± 1.7 (2.0-9.0) cm proximal to the entrance of the obturator foramen. In every cadaver, the authors were able to bring the posterior division of the obturator nerve to the vesical branch of the pelvic nerve (located internal to the ischial spine) in a tensionless manner with an excess obturator nerve length of 2.0 ± 1.2 (0.0-5.0) cm. The distance between the femoral nerve arborization and the anterior superior iliac spine was 9.3 ± 1.8 (6.5-15.0) cm, and the distance from the femoral arborization to the ischial spine was 12.9 ± 1.4 (10.0-16.0) cm. Diameters were similar between donor and recipient nerves.

Conclusions: The chosen donor nerves were long enough and of sufficient caliber for the proposed nerve transfers and tensionless anastomosis.