Percutaneous Tibia Nerve Stimulation
What is PTNS?
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation is a treatment for overactive bladder and associated symptoms of urinary urgency, urinary frequency and urge incontinence. Other treatment options include behavior modification, pelvic muscle strengthening, drug therapy and surgery.
Simple Procedure
- Provides percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation: a slim needle electrode, inserted near the tibial nerve, carries electric impulses from a hand-held stimulator to the sacral plexus
- 30-minute treatment sessions
- After the 12 initial treatments, patients typically need sessions to sustain symptom relief
Treatment involves 12 initial, 30-minute treatments scheduled a week apart. Patients who respond to this initial treatment usually need refresher treatments (~monthly) to sustain results.
Potential Risks:
- discomfort and pain (including throbbing pain) near the stimulation site
- redness/inflammation at or near the stimulation site
- local bleeding
- toe numbness or stomach ache.
Contraindications
- individuals with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators
- individuals prone to excessive bleeding
- individuals with nerve damage that could impact either percutaneous tibial nerve or pelvic floor function
- women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the duration of the treatment.
Efficacy
- Multiple studies show that 60-80% of patients improve with this treatment
- Majority will see a reduction in the frequency and urgency of bathroom visits and accidents.