Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Neuromodulator (TESCoN) Improves Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

Front. Syst. Neurosci., 2020 · DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2020.00001 · Published: February 6, 2020

Simple Explanation

Neuromodulation, using Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Neuromodulation (TESCoN), can help improve lower urinary tract function by retraining spinal neural networks. The study involved patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and idiopathic overactive bladder who underwent TESCoN therapy. TESCoN led to decreased detrusor overactivity, improved continence, and enhanced LUT sensation across different pathologies underlying LUT dysfunction.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

14 patients [SCI = 5, stroke = 5, multiple sclerosis (MS) = 3, and idiopathic OAB (iOAB) = 1]

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
TESCoN led to decreased detrusor overactivity, improved continence, and enhanced LUT sensation across different pathologies underlying LUT dysfunction.
2
After completing the 8-week therapeutic intervention, both sets of patients (n = 5 Stroke and n = 5 SCI) demonstrated an increased bladder capacity (P < 0.05).
3
Eleven out of thirteen neurogenic patients reported at least a five-point decrease in the NBSS.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Neuromodulation (TESCoN) on lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and idiopathic overactive bladder (iOAB). The results showed that TESCoN led to decreased detrusor overactivity, improved continence, and enhanced LUT sensation across the different pathologies underlying LUT dysfunction. The study concludes that TESCoN is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique that can re-engage and restore the automaticity intrinsic to the autonomic control of the LUT.

Practical Implications

Clinical Application

TESCoN could be used as a non-surgical modality to reduce urinary incontinence and improve neurogenic bladder symptom scores in individuals with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury or stroke.

Therapeutic Potential

Repetitive TESCoN stimulation over several weeks can retrain spinal neural networks to relearn timely storage and voiding.

Wider Application

TESCoN may be explored in other brain pathologies associated with LUT dysfunction, such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of patients
2
Lack of sham stimulation
3
Did not assess chronic changes in the cortex during simultaneous functional MRI recordings during urodynamic studies

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury