Neuroanatomy of the pelvis

Abstract

Urinary retention and urinary incontinence represent two distinct urologic complications after abdominoperineal resection. Injury to detrusor branches of the pelvic nerve can cause detrusor denervation and urinary retention. In addition, injury to intrapelvic branches of the pelvic and pudendal nerves to the urinary sphincter can result in intrinsic sphincter deficiency and urinary incontinence. A better understanding of the neuroanatomy of the lower genitourinary tract can give a physiologic basis for clinical findings of postoperative voiding dysfunction and may help the surgeon refine surgical technique by more precisely determining resection limits to minimize urologic complications.