Computed tomography-guided pudendal block for treatment of pelvic pain dueto pudendal neuropathy

Background: Severe pelvic pain secondary to pudendal neuropathy can be trea ted with repeated local anesthetic nerve blocks or with. surgical decompres sion of the nerve. Computed tomographic (CT) needle guidance to identified reliable anatomic points might be useful for improved success rates. Technique: A CT scan is used to determine baseline anatomy and identify the sacrospinous process. A metallic marker is used to create a perpendicular pathway from the sacrospinous process upward to the skin surface, where a l ocal anesthetic is injected. A 22-gauge, 5-inch needle is inserted downward in a perpendicular direction to the target. Deep penetration and direction are confirmed by serial CT scans. Medication is injected and the needle is removed. Experience: Twenty-six women with diagnoses of pudendal neuropathy were tre ated with injection therapy once per month, for five total treatments each. About three-quarters experienced improvement. There were no complications in this series. Outcomes were gratifying considering the complex patient po pulation, all having failed multiple therapeutic trials. Conclusion: We believe this technique warrants further evaluation and appli cation in instances where noninvasive therapy of pudendal neuropathy is ind icated. (Obstet Gynecol (C) 2000;95:306-9. (C) 2000 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.).