Electrical pelvic floor stimulation: A possible alternative treatment for reflex urinary incontinence in patients with spinal cord injury

The present study demonstrates the clinical experience of pelvic floor stimulation using percutaneous implantable electrodes and implantable electrical stimulator for the treatment of reflex urinary incontinence in patients with spinal cord injury. Pelvic floor stimulation was carried out on six paraplegic patients who had urinary incontinence from an overactive bladder. After the percutaneous implantation of a pair of electrodes, chronic stimulation was carried out by employing an implanted receiver or an external pulse regulator. Within 4 to 16 weeks of electrical stimulation urinary incontinence was improved in four of the six patients. In two of these six patients, incontinence was completely abolished subjectively. Urodynamic investigations demonstrated an increased volume at the first unstable contraction (P<0.01) in all of the patients. Inhibition of detrusor overactivity was obtained from this procedure. The stimulation effect appeared to be constant during chronic stimulation. This new procedure probably provides a stable and reliable stimulation effect for long term treatment, and may be an alternative treatment for previous external electrical pelvic floor stimulation.