Photo Credit: Silver Place
The following is a summary of “Reduction of Overactive Bladder Medications in Spinal Cord Injury With Self-Administered Neuromodulation: A Randomized Trial,” published in the December 2024 issue of Urology by Stampas et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess if self-administered bladder neuromodulation could replace overactive bladder medications in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
They conducted a 3-month, randomized, investigator-blinded trial comparing tibial nerve stimulation to sham in adults with SCI and neurogenic bladder. The primary outcome was reducing medications while maintaining bladder symptoms and quality of life (QoL), measured by the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score and Incontinence QoL questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included cystometrogram changes, 2-day voiding diaries, and side effects from anticholinergic medications.
The results showed that 50 people consented, with 42 completing the trial. Baseline demographics and surveys were comparable, except the stimulation group had a higher proportion of bladder compliance loss. At the trial’s end, 95% of the tibial nerve stimulation group reduced medications, compared to 68% in the control group (26.2% difference, 95% CI 1.17%-51.2%). Function, QoL surveys, and cystometrograms were similar between groups. Satisfaction and adherence to the tibial nerve stimulation protocol were high.
They concluded that transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation effectively reduced or replaced overactive bladder medications in patients with SCI. The treatment was well-tolerated and improved bladder management.
Source: auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/JU.0000000000004189
