Objective: To investigate the bladder function recovery and quality of life (QOL) using nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) in treating early invasive cervical carcinoma.

Methods: Subjects included patients who underwent radical hysterectomy by laparotomy for early-stage cervical carcinoma. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups: group A, 15 patients who underwent NSRH; and group B, 16 patients who underwent classical radical hysterectomy. We observed the patients' general clinical information, surgical characteristics, postoperative vital signs, pathological findings, adjuvant therapies, and adverse effects. A urodynamic study was used to assess the bladder function. The patients' QOL was evaluated by Functional Assessment of Cervical Cancer Therapy (FACT-Cx).

Results: Twenty-nine patients completed the study. No significant differences were found in age, body mass index, surgery characteristics, pathological findings, adjuvant therapies, and main adverse effects between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative time of bladder function recovery in group A was obviously earlier than that in group B (P < 0.05). The urodynamic study showed that the extent of bladder function recovery in group A was better than that in group B (P < 0.05). The QOL in group A evaluated 1 year after operation was improved compared with that in group B (P < 0.05). The QOL analysis showed that group A did much better than group B in social and family life, emotional well-being, working status, and the symptom correlated with the operation (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in basic bodily functions (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy is a safe and reliable technique for early invasive cervical carcinoma. The postoperative bladder function recovery and the patients' QOL were improved after NSRH compared with the control group. Therefore, NSRH could be an alternative management to modify the classical surgery for cervical carcinoma with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IB1 to IIA.