Sacrospinous Fixation in the Gynecology Department of Hôpital du Mali

Abstract

Sacrospinous fixation (SSF) or Richter’s intervention (RI) aims to treat genital prolapse by securing the posterior vaginal wall to the small sacrospinous ligament. It is performed by low approach and includes a dissection of the pararectal space, visual exposure of the sacrospinous ligament and a needle with strait needle holder with nonabsorbable threads. It is often associated with a more complex corrective procedure, including cystocele cure, vaginal hysterectomy and posterior myorrhaphy. The objective of this study is to report the results of SSF in the gynecology department of Hopital du Mali. A descriptive study was conducted from September 2014 to September 2015 concerning 37 patients operated on for uterine prolapse (UP). All patients with grade III UP were included in our study in whom a unilateral hysterectomy (UH) and sacrospinous fixation (SSF) were performed. All the patients were scheduled. Preoperatively they had benefited from an assessment and a pre-anesthetic consultation. Hospitalization of at least 24 hours prior to the operation was required. Postoperative follow-up was two years with a physical examination at 3 months, 9 months and 15 months, and phone calls between physical consultations. During the study period, we performed 37 RIs. The mean age of the patients was 48 years with extremes of 41 to 73 years. The large multiparity was found out in 35 cases (94.59%), the pauciparous were two with 3 deliveries for each. Long labor of more than 18 hours was found out in 9 patients (24.32%) and home delivery in 13 cases (35.13%). The duration of the occurrence of prolapse was at least two years and 35 patients were going through menopause. The type of anesthesia used for the surgery was spinal anesthesia for all patients. The average duration of the operation was 90 minutes. Complications occurred in three patients or 8.10% of cases, two cases of acute urine retention and one case of hematoma of the para-rectal space. The medium time of hospital stay was 5 days. The anatomical result was satisfactory in all patients. However, two patients presented with grade II rectocele one year after the operation. Sacrospinous fixation is a technique suitable for our patients who present with genital prolapse with extreme laxity of the suspension ligaments. Well done, it brings anatomical satisfaction and its complications are rare and slight.