Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Spinal Cord Injury Neurogenic Bladder

Launched by THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, HOUSTON · Apr 14, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating whether a treatment called transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) can help improve bladder function in people who have recently experienced a spinal cord injury. TTNS involves using gentle electrical stimulation on the leg to see if it can lead to better bladder control for patients with spinal cord injuries, particularly those with higher-level injuries (at or above the T9 level).

To participate in this study, individuals need to be between 18 and 75 years old and have been admitted to a rehabilitation facility within six weeks of their injury. They should be able to speak English or Spanish and live near the study location for follow-up visits. However, those with certain medical histories, such as specific bladder or nerve conditions, or those who are pregnant, will not be eligible to join. Participants can expect to receive the TTNS treatment and will be monitored to evaluate its effects on their bladder outcomes, helping researchers learn if this could be a helpful therapy for others in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18-75 years old
• • Traumatic or non-traumatic SCI
• • Admitted to inpatient rehabilitation within 6 weeks
• • T9 level of injury and above who are at greatest risk of morbid NGB
• • Regionally located to allow follow-up
• • English or Spanish speaking
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of genitourinary diagnoses (i.e. prostate hypertrophy, overactive bladder, cancer, etc.)
• • History of central nervous system disorder (i.e. prior SCI, stroke, brain injury, Parkinson's disease, MS, etc.)
• • History of peripheral neuropathy
• • pre-SCI symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (numbness and/or tingling in feet, sharp/jabbing/burning pain in feet, sensitivity to touch, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, etc.)
• • Pregnancy
• • Known injury to the lumbosacral spinal cord or plexus, or pelvis with associated neuropathy
• • concern for tibial nerve pathway injury
• • absence of toe flexion or autonomic dysreflexia during electric stimulation test
• • Potential for progressive SCI including neurodegenerative SCI, ALS, cancer myelopathy, Multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis