Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), also referred to as posterior tibial nerve stimulation, is the least invasive forms 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 post-radical prostatectomy. Outside the United States, PTNS is also used to treat fecal incontinence.
PTNS can be used as a primary therapy. However, treatment for Overactive Bladder and Fecal Incontinence begins with conservative therapies including pharmacology. There are a variety of OAB drugs available that generally produce similar overall efficacy and 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.
PTNS is delivered using the Urgent PC Neuromodulation System available from Uroplasty, Inc., Minnetonka, MN.
Read more about Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation: Procedure, Research and Market Approval, U.S. Reimbursement, U.K. NICE Guidance, See Also, External Links
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