Table 4 Factors related to nerve injury during gynecologic surgery (patient’s characteristics, surgical procedure, surgeon’s activity)

Age > 60 years

BMI <  20

Major surgical procedure

(hysterectomy, radical hysterectomy, hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy, etc.)

Side of surgical incision

Narrow pelvis

Kind of procedure

(laparoscopic/laparotomic surgery)

Type, placement, time, and maximal traction of retractors

Smoking/alcohol

Patient position on the surgical table

Intraoperative bleedings

Diabetes

Time of procedure (> 120 min)

Surgical dissection and operative procedure

Endometriosis

Abdominal wall and fascial wound closure

Pre-existing neuropathies

Use of retractors or self-retaining retractors