Sacral neuromodulation for urinary retention caused by sexual abuse

Objective: This case report describes the use of sacral neuromodulation to treat urinary retention after sexual abuse. Methods: Sacral neuromodulation was added to therapeutic regimen of a 38-year-old woman in whom chronic, c omplete urinary retention developed after psychological and sexual abuse du ring childhood, Results: The combination of psychotherapy and neuromodulati on restored the patient's ability to void, whereas psychotherapy alone had not. Conclusions: Although a multifactorial etiology of retention cannot be ruled out in this patient, neuro modulation might effectively treat urinar y retention in cases of a conversion disorder after sexual abuse.