ISON Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Endometriosis of the Sciatic Nerve and Sacral Plexus

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AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07

These ISON guidelines consolidate current neuropelveological knowledge on diagnosing and surgically managing endometriosis of the sciatic nerve and sacral plexus, distinguishing key entities and proposing new classification and neuropathogenic models.

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This ISON guideline paper synthesizes neuropelveological concepts for diagnosing and surgically managing endometriosis affecting the sciatic nerve and sacral plexus, drawing on more than 600 patients treated over over two decades. It emphasizes differentiating sacral plexus endometriosis from isolated intraneural sciatic nerve endometriosis, describes a classification system and a neuropathogenic model for isolated sciatic nerve disease as a primary intraneural neuro-inflammatory and neuro-regenerative process, and provides recommendations covering clinical exam, imaging (MRI and transvaginal Doppler ultrasound), neuro-urological and electrophysiological assessments, differential diagnosis, and surgical strategies intended to prevent irreversible axonal damage. The paper is a guideline synthesis rather than a prospective comparative study, and it does not report specific outcomes in the provided text. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically endometriosis of the sciatic nerve and sacral plexus, including diagnostic differentiation and surgical management recommendations.

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Abstract

These official ISON Guidelines summarize the current neuropelveological concepts regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and surgical management of endometriosis involving the sciatic nerve and sacral plexus. Developed under the auspices of the International Society of Neuropelveology (ISON), the document reflects one of the world’s largest clinical and surgical experiences in pelvic nerve endometriosis, including more than 600 patients treated over more than two decades of neuropelveological practice. The guidelines emphasize the fundamental distinction between sacral plexus endometriosis and isolated intraneural sciatic nerve endometriosis, two entities with major differences in anatomical origin, biological behavior, neurological progression, imaging findings, and surgical implications. The document introduces a neuropelveological classification system and proposes a novel neuropathogenic model for isolated sciatic nerve endometriosis as a primary intraneural neuro-inflammatory and neuro-regenerative disease process. Detailed recommendations are provided for neuropelveological clinical examination, MRI and transvaginal Doppler ultrasound evaluation, neuro-urological assessment, electrophysiological studies, differential diagnosis, surgical indications, laparoscopic nerve decompression, intrafascicular neurolysis, microsurgical nerve-sparing techniques, vascular management, postoperative rehabilitation, and long-term neurological follow-up. Special emphasis is placed on the prevention of irreversible axonal damage and the necessity for highly specialized neuropelveological expertise and reference centers for surgical treatment. These guidelines aim to establish standardized principles for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic nerve endometriosis and to improve recognition of these frequently overlooked neuropathic disorders among gynecologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain specialists, radiologists, and pelvic surgeons worldwide. Keywords: Neuropelveology; Endometriosis; Sciatic nerve; Sacral plexus; Pelvic neuropathy; Catamenial sciatica; Laparoscopic nerve surgery; Pelvic nerve entrapment; Deep infiltrating endometriosis; Chronic pelvic pain; Pudendal neuralgia; Sacral radiculopathy; Neurofunctional pelvic surgery; LANN technique.
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These official ISON Guidelines summarize the current neuropelveological concepts regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and surgical management of endometriosis involving the sciatic nerve and sacral plexus. Developed under the auspices of the International Society of Neuropelveology (ISON), the document reflects one of the world’s largest clinical and surgical experiences in pelvic nerve endometriosis, including more than 600 patients treated over more than two decades of neuropelveological practice. The guidelines emphasize the fundamental distinction between sacral plexus endometriosis and isolated intraneural sciatic nerve endometriosis, two entities with major differences in anatomical origin, biological behavior, neurological progression, imaging findings, and surgical implications. The document introduces a neuropelveological classification system and proposes a novel neuropathogenic model for isolated sciatic nerve endometriosis as a primary intraneural neuro-inflammatory and neuro-regenerative disease process. Detailed recommendations are provided for neuropelveological clinical examination, MRI and transvaginal Doppler ultrasound evaluation, neuro-urological assessment, electrophysiological studies, differential diagnosis, surgical indications, laparoscopic nerve decompression, intrafascicular neurolysis, microsurgical nerve-sparing techniques, vascular management, postoperative rehabilitation, and long-term neurological follow-up. Special emphasis is placed on the prevention of irreversible axonal damage and the necessity for highly specialized neuropelveological expertise and reference centers for surgical treatment. These guidelines aim to establish standardized principles for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic nerve endometriosis and to improve recognition of these frequently overlooked neuropathic disorders among gynecologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain specialists, radiologists, and pelvic surgeons worldwide. Keywords: Neuropelveology; Endometriosis; Sciatic nerve; Sacral plexus; Pelvic neuropathy; Catamenial sciatica; Laparoscopic nerve surgery; Pelvic nerve entrapment; Deep infiltrating endometriosis; Chronic pelvic pain; Pudendal neuralgia; Sacral radiculopathy; Neurofunctional pelvic surgery; LANN technique.

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