title: Efficacy of functional magnetic stimulation in neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang-Yao
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yu-An
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yue-Cune
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tien-Yow
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: 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