Transcutaneous Posterior Nerve Stimulation inTreatment of Fecal Incontience

Shafik and colleagues were the first to report the use of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for FI, and they documented improved continence after 4 weeks course. Subsequent studies documented percutaneous and transcutaneous PTNS as effective methods for treatment of FI, with a short term reduction in incontinence episode by 50-80 %. Percutaneous PTNS (PPTNS) showed a greater effect than transcutaneous PTNS (TPTNS) and this may be assumed due to the presence of the stimulating electrode very close to the posterior tibial nerve. However, TPTNS is more preferable to percutaneous PTNS because of the concern about the insertion of a needle may result in stimulation that is sufficient to produce a neuromodulatory effect.