Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), also referred to as posterior tibial nerve stimulation, is the least invasive form of neuromodulation used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) and the associated symptoms of urinary urgency, urinary frequency and urge incontinence. These urinary symptoms may also occur with interstitial cystitis and following a radical prostatectomy. Outside the United States, PTNS is also used to treat fecal incontinence. PTNS can be used as a primary therapy. Treatment for overactive bladder and fecal incontinence may begin with pharmacological therapies before PTNS is administered. Unlike the variety of OAB drugs available PTNS is more effective and produces far fewer side-effects. Nearly 80% of patients discontinue use (mean of 4.8 months) of drugs within the first year with as high as 17% of discontinuation being due to adverse side-effects. Neuromodulation is emerging as an effective modality to treat patients who are not successful with conservative methods and its demonstrated efficacy has been the topic of multiple publications. Medical uses Urinary incontinence PTNS appears to be effective at improving the number of times a person who has overactive bladder syndrome needs to urinate, although the mechanism for this is unclear. It appears to work as well as medication, but with fewer side effects.