Posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of urge incontinence

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for treatment of urge incontinence. Methods: In a prospective multicentre study, 35 patients with complaints of urge incontinence underwent 12 weekly sessions of PTNS at one of five sites in the Netherlands and one site in Italy. Frequency/volume charts and I-QoL and SF-36 questionnaires were completed at 0 and 12 weeks. Success was analysed by using subjective and objective criteria. Overall subjective success was defined as the willingness to continue treatment, whereas objective success was defined as a significant decrease (to < 50%) in total number of leakage episodes. Results: Twenty-two patients (63%) reported a subjective success. Twenty-four patients (70%) showed a 50% or greater reduction in total number of leakage episodes. Sixteen (46%) of these-patients were completely cured (i.e., no leakage episodes) after 12 sessions. Quality of life parameters improved significantly. Conclusions: We conclude that posterior tibial nerve stimulation is an effective, minimally invasive option for treatment of patients with complaints of urge incontinence, as improvement was seen in subjective as well as objective parameters. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.