Posterior Tibial Nerve Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with Neurogenic Bladder

Jung, Jin Kwan; Yoon, Sang Min; Lee, Tack

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of posterior tibial nerve magnetic stimulation (PTNS), using a newly developed magnetic arm stimulator, for the treatment of patients with neurogenic bladder.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
25 patients with urgency, frequency and voiding difficulty symptoms of a neurogenic cause were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 19 and 6 had neurogenic detrusor overactivity and detrusor areflexia, respectively. The patients underwent a total of 16 PTNS sessions, twice a week, using an Arm type Magnetic Stimulator (BioCon 1000, Mcube, Korea). Subjective success was defined as the request to continue treatment, whereas objective success was defined as a significant reduction (>or=50%) in the total number of leakage episodes per 24 hours.
RESULTS
13 of the 16 patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (81.2%) reported subjective success, and 8 (50%) reported objective success. A statistically significant decrease in leakage episodes and voiding frequency (p<0.05), and an increase in the mean volume voided were observed (p<0.05). Statistically significant improvements were noted in quality of life score (p<0.05). In patients with detrusor areflexia, no significant improvements were observed in the frequency/volume chart data, quality of life scores or urodynamic data. No significant adverse events were noted in relation to the treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
PTNS can be considered to be a safe, non-invasive and effective treatment for neurogenic detrusor overactivity.