Pudendal Neuropathy One of the Main “Defects” in Perineology

Most of the publications about the surgical treatment of pudendal neuropathy are only interested by pain (1,2). This point of view is too reducing for a perineologist (3,4). Indeed, the compression or the stretch of one or the two pudendal nerves can provoke, besides perineodynia (pain) classically worse in seated position, proctalgia fugax, vulvodynia, urinary incontinence, anal incontinence or even impotence in the male. Dysuria, dyschezia, painful bladder, painful ejaculation and other perineal symptoms are sometimes induced by pudendal neuropathy. It is from 1991 that Shafik (5) published how these different symptoms, forming what he calls "the pudendal canal syndrome", can be treated surgically by a simple bilateral opening of the Alcock’s canal by the perineal route.