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 incontinenc e in patients with spinal cord injury. Pelvic floor stimulation was ca rried 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 imp lanted receiver or an external pulse regulator. Within 4 to 16 weeks o f electrical stimulation urinary incontinence was improved in four of the six patients. In two of these six patients, incontinence was compl etely abolished subjectively. Urodynamic investigations demonstrated a n increased volume at the first unstable contraction (P<0.01) in all o f 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 al ternative treatment for previous external electrical pelvic floor stim ulation.