Reinnervation of Urethral and Anal Sphincters With Femoral Motor Nerve to Pudendal Nerve Transfer

This study explores a surgical technique to restore urinary and fecal continence after nerve damage. It involves transferring motor branches of the femoral nerve to the pudendal nerve, which controls the urethral and anal sphincters. The researchers tested this nerve transfer in dogs, where they first damaged the nerves controlling the bladder and sphincters. Then, they reconnected the femoral nerve branches to the pudendal nerve branches. The results showed that the transferred femoral nerve could reinnervate the urethral and anal sphincters, leading to increased sphincter pressure upon stimulation. This suggests a potential way to help patients regain control over their bladder and bowel function.

• 1
  Femoral motor nerve branches can be successfully transferred to the pudendal nerve in a canine model.
• 2
  The transferred femoral nerve can reinnervate the urethral and anal sphincters, leading to increased sphincter pressure upon stimulation.
• 3
  Retrograde neurotracing confirmed that the transferred femoral nerve motor branches innervated the urethral and anal sphincters.