Neuroestimulación percutánea del nervio tibial posterior frente a neuroestimulación de B 6 (Sanyinjiao) en incontinencia urinaria de urgencia

Abstract

ObjectiveComparison of effectiveness between electroacupuncture of SP 6 (Sanyinjiao) and percutaneous stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve. DesignProspective, blind randomized two-arm controlled pilot study. LocationPelvic Floor Unit, part of the Rehabilitation Interlevel Clinical Management Unit at the Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía (Córdoba, Spain). ParticipantsConsecutive sampling of 24 patients with urge incontinence that satisfied inclusion criteria, under the age of 75, with mild-severe involvement according to the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-SF) and the Bladder Control Self-Assessment Questionnaire (B-SAQ) and who have undergone conservative treatment for over 1 year, with a good level of collaboration. InterventionsElectrostimulation of SP 6 (Sanyinjiao) to one of the arms of the study, and percuta neous tibial nerve stimulation to the other, both subject to a total of 12 weekly sessions. Main outcome variablesVoiding frequency (diurnal and nocturnal), urge and leaking episodes, B-SAQ and ICIQ-SF results before and after treatment. ResultsA clinical and statistically significant improvement was visible in all outcome variables with both treatments. Results of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation were superior to those of electroacupuncture of SP 6 for B-SAQ. No significant differences were found for the rest of variables. ConclusionsBoth percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and electroacupuncture of SP 6 (Sanyinjiao) improve urge incontinence. Results are slightly better with percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, without statistical significance, where neurostimulation ranks higher than electroacupuncture.