Efficacy of functional magnetic stimulation in neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to assess the usefulness of functional magnetic stimulation in controlling neurogenic bowel dysfunction in spinal cord injured patients with supraconal and conal/caudal lesions, and to investigate the efficacy of this regimen with a 3-month follow-up.


METHODS
A longitudinal, prospective before-after trial.


METHODS
A total of 22 patients with chronic spinal cord injured and intractable neurogenic bowel dysfunction. They were divided into group 1 (supraconal lesion) and group 2 (conal/caudal lesion).


METHODS
The colonic transit time assessment and Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom Questionnaire were carried out for each patient before they received a 3-week functional magnetic stimulation protocol and on the day following the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Following functional magnetic stimulation, the mean colonic transit time for all patients decreased from 62.6 to 50.4 h (p<0.001). The patients' Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom scores decreased from 24.5 to 19.2 points (p<0.001). The colonic transit time decrement in both group 1 (p=0.003) and group 2 (p=0.043) showed significant differences, as did the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom score in both groups following stimulation and in the 3-month follow-up results (p<0.01). The improvements in bowel function indicate that functional magnetic stimulation,featuring broad-spectrum application, can be incorporated successfully into other therapies as an optimal adjuvant treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction resulting from spinal cord injury.
Tsai
Po-Yi
PY
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wang
Chih-Pin
CP
Chiu
Fang-Yao
FY
Tsai
Yu-An
YA
Chang
Yue-Cune
YC
Chuang
Tien-Yow
TY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000503:physiopathology; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult