title: Sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to analyze short-term outcomes and complications for our first fifty patients with fecal incontinence undergoing sacral root stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  fifty patients with fecal incontinence receiving sacral neuromodulation in 4 hospitals are reviewed. Discussed variables include: age, sex, incontinence duration, incontinence cause, prior surgery for incontinence, Wexner scale score, anorectal manometry parameters, and endoanal ultrasonographic findings. Following the procedure Wexner scale score, anorectal manometry parameters, and associated complications are reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mean age of patients is 59.9 years, with females predominating. Most common causes of incontinence include obstetric procedures, idiopathic origin, and prior anal surgery. Mean follow-up is 17.02 months. Follow-up revealed a statistically significant reduction in Wexner scale score and increase in voluntary anal pressure. Technique-derived minor complications included: 2 surgical wound infections that led to stimulator withdrawal; 2 patients with pain who were managed conservatively; 1 case of externalization in a gluteal stimulator; and 1 broken tetrapolar electrode.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sacral nerve stimulation is a simple technique that improves Wexner scores in a statistically significant manner with a low complications rate.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Infanta Sofía, Madrid, Spain. isabelpasmi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Carolina de Carlos González
authors.initials: Cde C
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Marta Jiménez
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Marijuán
authors.forename: Manuel Lomas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Espadas
authors.forename: José María Fernández
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cebrián
authors.forename: Damián García
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Olmo
authors.forename: José Antonio Pascual
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Montero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome