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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Feb 11.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Urol. 2015 Feb 10;12(2):100–118. doi: 10.1038/nrurol.2015.4

Table 5.

Coaptation of peripheral nerves to pelvic or pudendal nerves

Study Procedure Functional
recovery
(time)		 Evidence Limitations Possible
application
Transfer of peripheral nerves to pelvic nerves
Trumble
(1935)17 		Hypogastric nerve → pelvic
nerve on one side
Obturator nerve → pelvic
nerve on other side
Canine model		 No (hypogastric
nerve)
Yes(obturator
nerve)
(6–12 months)		 FES of obturator nerve
induced bladder
contractions		 Limited motor nerve
regeneration
(hypogastric nerve)		 Lesion
of
cauda equina
Kimmel
(1966)29 		Hypogastric nerve → pelvic
nerve
Obturator nerve → pelvic
nerve
Pelvic nerve repair
Arterial sleeve method
Rat model		 No (hypogastric
nerve)
Yes (obturator
nerve)
Yes (repair)
(2–8 months)		 Recovery of bladder
function after obturator
nerve transfer and pelvic
nerve transfer		 Atonic bladder
(hypogastric nerve →
pelvic nerve)		 Lesion
of
cauda equina
Transfer of peripheral nerves to pudendal or pelvic nerves
Ruggieri
et al.
(2008)34, 35 		Genitofemoral nerve →
anterior ventral branch of
pelvic nerve
Vesicostomy
Canine model		 Yes
(4–6 months)		 Retrograde dye evidence of
axon regrowth from cord to
bladder		 Sustained abdominal
contraction could
result in unintentional
voiding; indwelling
FES electrodes need
improved design		 SCI in
lower L
and S
segments, and
cauda equina;
patient
needs
control
of
abdominal
muscles
if FES
not used
Brown et al.
(2011)33 		Motor branches of femoral
nerve → pudendal nerve
Cadavers or canine model		 Yes (dogs)
(3–6 months)		 Reinnervation of EUS and
anal sphincter		 Not yet tested in
patients		 SCI in
lower L
and S
segments;
lesion of
cauda equina
Brown et al.
(2012,
2013)20, 21 		Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric
nerve → pelvic nerve
Femoral nerve → pelvic
nerve
Cadavers		 na na Not yet tested in
patients		 SCI in
lower L
and S
segments;
lesion of
cauda equina
Direct detrusor muscle reinnervation by somatic nerve transfer
Rao et al.
(1971)32 		Obturator or femoral nerves
implanted directly into
detrusor muscle
Intramuscular tunnel (arterial
sleeve)
Canine and rat model		 No
(7.5–10 months)		 na Neuroma formation;
no regeneration of
motor end plate;
increased frequency
of UTIs		 Lesion
of
cauda
equina

Abbreviations: →, transfer to; EUS, external urethral sphincter; ES, electrical stimulation; L, lumbar; na, not applicable; S, sacral; SCI, spinal cord injury.