PTNS

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation

Procedure overview

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive treatment

for overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. While many options are available for

the treatment of OAB, including behavioral modification, Pelvic Floor Muscle

Rehabilitation (PFMR) and medication, not all patients have success with these.

PTNS works by gentle electrical stimulation of the nerves of the sacral nerve

plexus to modify the bladder’s activity, sometimes referred to as

neuromodulation. The tibial nerve, located in the lower leg, can be accessed

with a sensor placed through the skin, the impulses then travel along the tibial

nerve and to the sacral nerve plexus.

After your physician determines that you may benefit from PTNS, you return for

an initial evaluation with our nurse practitioner who specializes in urinary

incontinence. A small needle electrode is inserted adjacent to the tibial nerve in

your lower leg and connected to the battery-powered stimulator. These gentle

impulses travel up the tibial nerve to the sacral nerve plexus to modify the

bladder’s activity. Each treatment last about thirty minutes, and an initial series

of twelve treatments are scheduled, each about a week apart. The entire

procedure is carried out in the comfort of our office, and following the initial series

of treatments you are evaluated by your doctor to assess your response to

treatment.