Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42009662›Full record

Trial reportSpinal cord series and cases2026

Early transanal irrigation in spinal cord injury-related neurogenic bowel dysfunction: preliminary insights.

Giuseppina Frasca, Luisa De Palma, Marisa Megna, Ilaria Rosso, Lorella Cocchini, Gianluca Medina, Gabriele Righi, Annalisa Baroni, Giulio Del Popolo, Astrid Bonaccorsi and 2 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in Spinal cord series and cases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Giuseppina FrascaUnità Spinale Unipolare e Unità di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione, A.O.U. Policlinico Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy. giuseppina.frasca@policlinico.ba.it.ORCID 0009-0004-9583-3036
Luisa De PalmaUnità Spinale Unipolare e Unità di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione, A.O.U. Policlinico Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy.
Marisa MegnaDipartimento di Biomedicina Traslazionale e Neuroscienze-Università Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Ilaria RossoUnità Spinale Unipolare presidio CTO, Dipartimento di Ortopedia Traumatologica e Riabilitazione Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
Lorella CocchiniUnità Spinale Unipolare presidio CTO, Dipartimento di Ortopedia Traumatologica e Riabilitazione Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
Gianluca MedinaUnità Spinale Unipolare presidio CTO, Dipartimento di Ortopedia Traumatologica e Riabilitazione Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy.
Gabriele RighiUnità Spinale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Careggi, Firenze, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6655-9518
Annalisa BaroniUnità Spinale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Careggi, Firenze, Italy.
Giulio Del PopoloUnità Spinale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Careggi, Firenze, Italy.
Astrid BonaccorsiUnità Operativa di Urologia e Unità Spinale di Catania, Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.
Francesco SavocaUnità Operativa di Urologia e Unità Spinale di Catania, Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.
Angela CostaUnità Operativa di Urologia e Unità Spinale di Catania, Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designProspective, randomized, open-label, multicenter, parallel group study.

objectivesNeurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is a common complication in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, severely affecting quality of life. While transanal irrigation (TAI) has shown superior efficacy over conservative treatments (CT), its early adoption during the first hospitalization post-injury remains unexplored. This study aimed to compare early TAI initiation versus CT in managing NBD in SCI patients.

settingThis study involved four spinal units across Italy.

methodsSCI patients were randomized to receive TAI or CT during a four-week hospital stay, followed by continued treatment at home for 6 months. Bowel function, constipation, and continence were assessed using the Wexner scales, while quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D-5L and Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) questionnaires. Stool transit time and patient independence were also monitored.

resultsTwenty-two patients were enrolled, with the TAI group showing significant improvements in constipation (Wexner score reduction from 13.43 ± 4.24 at baseline to 7.55 ± 2.38 and 8.80 ± 4.16 at 4 weeks and 6 months, p = 0.02) and a trend toward continence improvement. A significant increase in the total SCIM score was observed in the TAI group (p = 0.02), particularly in respiratory and sphincter management. Quality of life improved in both groups, with a notable enhancement in self-care activities for the TAI group (p = 0.006).

conclusionsThese preliminary results suggest early TAI adoption improves bowel management, especially constipation, and enhances patient independence. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and assess long-term benefits.

Indexed as

Neurogenic BowelSpinal Cord InjuriesTherapeutic IrrigationAdultAgedConstipationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesQuality of Life

Identifiers

PMID42009662
PMCPMC13096179

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.