Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2023; 50(06): 578-585
DOI: 10.1055/a-1995-1513
Extremity/Lymphedema
Idea and Innovation

Modified Urethral Graciloplasty Cross-Innervated by the Pudendal Nerve for Postprostatectomy Urinary Incontinence: Cadaveric Simulation Surgery and a Clinical Case Report

Hisashi Sakuma 
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
,
Masaki Yazawa 
3   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Makoto Hikosaka 
4   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
,
Yumiko Uchikawa-Tani 
5   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
,
Masayoshi Takayama 
6   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nasu Red Cross Hospital, Nasu, Japan
,
Kazuo Kishi 
3   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Funding None.
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Abstract

An artificial sphincter implanted in the bulbous urethra to treat severe postprostatectomy urinary incontinence is effective, but embedding-associated complications can occur. We assessed the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve. A simulation surgery on three male fresh cadavers was performed. Both ends of the gracilis muscle were isolated only on its vascular pedicle with proximal end of the obturator nerve severed and transferred to the perineum. We examined whether the gracilis muscle could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra and whether the obturator nerve was long enough to suture with the pudendal nerve. In addition, surgery was performed on a 71-year-old male patient with severe urinary incontinence. The postoperative 12-month outcomes were assessed using a 24-hour pad test and urodynamic study. In all cadaveric simulations, the gracilis muscles could be wrapped around the bulbous urethra in a γ-loop configuration. The length of the obturator nerve was sufficient for neurorrhaphy with the pudendal nerve. In the clinical case, the postoperative course was uneventful. The mean maximum urethral closure pressure and functional profile length increased from 40.7 to 70 cm H2O and from 40.1 to 45.3 mm, respectively. Although urinary incontinence was not completely cured, the patient was able to maintain urinary continence at night. Urethral graciloplasty cross-innervated by the pudendal nerve is effective in raising the urethral pressure and reducing urinary incontinence.

Keywords

urinary incontinence - graciloplasty - pudendal nerve - microsurgery

Ethical Approval

This clinical study was approved by the Ethics Committee Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital (12-05-03) and performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained.


Authors' Contributions

Conceptualization: H.S., M.Y. Data curation: H.S., Y.U.T. Formal analysis: H.S., Y.U.T. Methodology: H.S., M.T. Project administration: K.K. Writing-original draft: H.S. Writing-review and editing: H.S., M.H. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


Patient Consent

Written informed patient consent obtained for the study.


License Type: CC BY-NC-ND




Publication History

Received: 11 May 2022

Accepted: 30 November 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 December 2022

Article published online:
17 October 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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