Pudendal nerve entrapment and neuralgia

Pudendal nerve entrapment is a rare and painful condition.  

Pudendal neuralgia by pudendal nerve entrapment is described as severe, sharp pain along the course of the pudendal nerve.  Genital numbness and erectile dysfunction are two of the major symptoms and the prevalence has been reported to be 50–91% and 13–24% respectively.  This can be caused by trauma, infection, tumour, child birth, iatrogenic injury, surgery and/or microtrauma from cycling.  It has been reported that 7–8% of cyclists on long-distance multiday rides experience pudendal neuralgia.  Diagnosis of pudendal nerve entrapment is often delayed or misdiagnosed, causing people to suffer with this for 2–10 years.  It is important to understand the clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria to allow early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. 

Pudendal nerve entrapment syndrome

Symptoms and signs:

Patient must fulfil all Nantes and at least 1 complementary criteria. 

Nantes Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

Complementary diagnostic criteria:

Exclusion criteria:

Associated signs: