Genital nerve stimulation is tolerable and effective for bladder inhibition in sensate individuals with incomplete SCI

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to uninhibited bladder contractions, reducing urinary continence and bladder capacity. Surface electrical genital nerve stimulation (GNS) can acutely inhibit reflexive bladder contractions. The study aimed to determine if individuals with incomplete SCI can tolerate GNS for bladder inhibition. The study found GNS to be tolerable at amplitudes that effectively inhibit neurogenic detrusor overactivity in individuals with pelvic sensation.

• 1
  GNS was tolerable up to 30±16 mA, exceeding twice the pudendal-anal (PA) reflex threshold of 8±5 mA.
• 2
  Twelve subjects tolerated GNS at >2x PA reflex, six tolerated 1–1.5x PA, and five had no identifiable PA reflex.
• 3
  GNS at tolerable amplitudes inhibited reflexive bladder contractions or increased bladder capacity by 135±109 mL (n=23).