Trial reportInternational journal of colorectal disease2010
Chronic posterior tibial nerve transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to treat fecal incontinence (FI).
Trial report in International journal of colorectal disease, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 63 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tibial nerve electrical stimulation for fecal incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Updates in surgery · 2023Pooled it
- Tools for fecal incontinence assessment: lessons for inflammatory bowel disease trials based on a systematic review.United European gastroenterology journal · 2020Pooled it
- Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for treatment of constipation in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- WITHDRAWN: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for treatment of constipation in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) for treatment of constipation in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Bilateral posterior tibial nerve stimulation as a neuromodulation strategy for obstructed defecation: a randomized controlled trial.Techniques in coloproctology · 2025Trial
- Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on rats with post-operative ileus.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2022Article
- Surgery for anal fistulae: state of the art.International journal of colorectal disease · 2021Review
- Kegel Exercises, Biofeedback, Electrostimulation, and Peripheral Neuromodulation Improve Clinical Symptoms of Fecal Incontinence and Affect Specific Physiological Targets: An Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility · 2021Article
- Efficacy of Bilateral Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Fecal Incontinence.The Permanente journal · 2018Observational
- Management of patients with faecal incontinence.Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology · 2016Review
- Impact of fecal incontinence and its treatment on quality of life in women.Women's health (London, England) · 2015Review
- Current status: new technologies for the treatment of patients with fecal incontinence.Surgical endoscopy · 2014Review
- Sphincteroplasty for anal incontinence.Gastroenterology report · 2014Article
- Posterior tibial nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence: where are we?World journal of gastroenterology · 2013Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a possible alternative to sacral nerve stimulation because the neurophysiologic targets might be similar but the former method is non-invasive and cheaper. The aim of the study was to assess both symptom and quality of life (QoL) improvements in patients suffering from severe FI.
methodsThirty two patients (M/F, 30/2; age, 61 +/- 13 years) were enrolled in a pilot trial because they suffered from a severe and stable FI (Cleveland Score14.5 +/- 2.8 [11-20]) for a long duration (95 +/- 91 months). TENS was delivered 20 min bis in die at home (Schwa Medico, P3). Assessment was realized at 1, 3, and 6 months with both semi-directive and self-administered questionnaires. Main endpoint was the quantified success rate after 1 month of follow-up.
resultsMean subjective improvement was 26 +/- 30%: 20 (63%) patients reported some degree of improvement and 10 (32%) at least a 25% improvement in fecal incontinence. The Cleveland score significantly decreased at 1 (11 +/- 4; p < 0.001), 3 (11 +/- 5; p < 0.001), and 6 (10 +/- 5; p < 0.001) months. All subscales of QoL were significantly improved after a 3-month period of stimulation. However, constipation score and number of pads did not change. There was no adverse event.
conclusionTENS provides slight improvement in FI. This justifies both neurophysiology assessment and randomized controlled studies before further diffusion of the technique.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.