Decompression of Pudendal and Inferior Cluneal Nerves Using Robot-assisted Laparoscopy for Entrapment Neuralgias : the X-DECO Study

Pudendal and inferior cluneal neuralgias are responsible for chronic pelvic perineal pain. The compression of both of the nerves are thought to be associated in approximately 25% of the pudendal neuralgias. The failure of the isolated pudendal decompression led in the early 2000s to the identification of an entrapment syndrome of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and its inferior cluneal branche around the ischial tuberosity. This subsequent neuralgia affects the posterior part of the perineum, lower buttock, and the posterior part of the thigh, without any associated neuro-vegetative symptoms, unlike in pudendal neuralgia. In case of failure of the medical treatment, the open trans-gluteal decompression was proposed as a gold standard. However, this technique remains invasive and requires a long recovery. In a previous study, the investigators demonstrated the feasibility of double decompression via a minimally invasive robot-assisted laparoscopic approach, and described a 4-step technique.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients over 18 years old
• Patients presenting a pudendal and inferior cluneal entrapment neuralgia with 5 positive"Nantes criteria", and failure of the medical treatment
• Patient having given consent after reading the information note

Exclusion criteria

• Absence of any "Nantes criteria",
• Patient non suitable for surgery/general anesthesia