NEUROLOGICAL EVALUATION AFTER RADICAL RESECTION OF SACRAL NEOPLASMS

Eight patients had a radical resection of sacral tumours, and bilatera l severance of lumbosacral nerves was required. Their neurological def icits and disturbance of activities of daily living (ADL) were studied . The neurological deficits which occurred were motor dysfunction of t he lower limbs, sensory disturbances, and urinary, faecal and sexual d ysfunction. Bilateral preservation of the L5 nerve and above was neces sary to permit the ability to walk, and bilateral preservation of the S2 nerve and above was necessary to spare urinary, faecal and sexual f unctions in order to establish ADL. To maintain normal ADL, bilateral preservation of the S2 nerve and above was necessary for walking, and bilateral preservation of the S3 nerve and above was necessary for uri nary, faecal and sexual functions.