Case Report
Obturator Nerve Injury: An Infrequent Complication of
TOT Procedure
S. Aydogmus,
1
S. Kelekci,
1
H. Aydogmus,
2
E. Ekmekci,
1
Y. Secil,
3
and S. Ture
4
1
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine,
˙
Izmir Katip C ¸elebi University, Karabaglar, 35150 Izmir, Turkey
2
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ataturk Research and Training Hospital,
˙
Izmir Katip C ¸ elebi University,
Karabaglar, 35150 Izmir, Turkey
3
Department of Neurology, Ataturk Research and Training Hospital,
˙
Izmir Katip C ¸elebi University, Karabaglar, 35150 Izmir, Turkey
4
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine,
˙
Izmir Katip C ¸elebi University, Karabaglar, 35150 Izmir, Turkey
Correspondence should be addressed to S. Aydogmus; serpilaydogmus@gmail.com
Received 1 August 2014; Accepted 17 September 2014; Published 29 September 2014
Academic Editor: Lo¨ ıc Sentilhes
Copyright © 2014 S. Aydogmus et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Transvaginal mid-urethral slings have become the most preferred surgical treatment option for female stress urinary incontinence.
However, various complications have been reported for these operations occurring especially during penetration of the retropubic
space. It can negatively afect patient’s quality of life. Early treatment increases the chance of complete normalization of the functions.
In this case report we presented a case of obturator nerve damage that was diagnosed and treated at early stage afer TOT operation.
1. Introduction
Stress urinary incontinence is a major public health problem
afecting 20% of women and impairing quality of life. Due
to their efcacy, safety, and ease of application, transvaginal
midurethral slings have become the most preferred surgi-
cal treatment option [1]. However, various complications
have been reported of these operations occurring especially
during the penetration of the retropubic space. Although
the majority of complications are minor complications like
bladder perforation, such as complications like vascular
or bowel injury, nerve injury, hematoma development are
possible complications that may be fatal. In order to reduce
these complications, as an alternative method, transobturator
tape (TOT) method has been developed by Delorme [2].
However, the TOT method is not a risk-free method and such
complications like infection, erosion, and myositis have been
reported in the literature [3].
It was reported that at 5% of cases have a leg pain and
it is improved in one month with an analgesic therapy [4].
Nerve injury was reported in 0.7–0.9/1000 afer midurethral
sling surgery [5]. In this case report, we presented a case of
obturator nerve damage that was diagnosed and treated at
early stage afer TOT operation.
2. Case Report
Te patient was referred to us because of pain at the right leg,
limitation, and inability to walk at the second postoperative
day afer midurethral sling (Safyre, Promedon) surgery which
was performed for stress urinary incontinence. When the
patient was admitted to the hospital, it was noted that adduc-
tion of the thigh was impaired. She was complaining about
inability of adduction and paresthesias on the right thigh and
she was not able to walk independently because of the loss
of motor strength. Tese right adductor muscle symptoms
were thought to be obturator nerve palsy. In magnetic res-
onance imaging (MRI) at coronal section, tape (thin arrow)
was observed passing very close to the obturator bundle
(thick arrow) at the right obturator fossa (Figures 1(a)-1(b)).
Tis was confrmed at axial section (Figures 1(c)-1(d)).
In pelvic ultrasonography, we did not detect edema or
hematoma around tape (Figure 1(e)). Methylprednisolone,
48 mg, niacin, 250 mg, and pyridoxine, 250 mg per day, were
given to the patient. At postoperative day fve, cystoscopy was
performed because symptoms were persisting. In cystoscopy,
bladder and urethra were viewed intact. Te present TOT
sling was removed and a new minisling was performed at the
same session. Te patient’s symptoms dramatically declined
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 2014, Article ID 290382, 3 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/290382