title: Short-term outcome following percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for faecal incontinence: a single-centre prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is increasingly being used as a treatment for faecal incontinence (FI). The evidence for its efficacy is limited to a few studies involving small numbers of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of PTNS in patients with urge, passive and mixed FI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of 100 patients with FI was studied. Continence scores were determined before treatment and following 12 sessions of PTNS using a validated questionnaire [Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCF)-FI score]. The deferment time and average number of weekly incontinence episodes before and after 12 sessions of treatment were estimated from a bowel dairy kept by the patient. Quality of life was assessed prior to and on completion of 12 sessions of PTNS using a validated questionnaire [Rockwood Faecal Incontinence Quality of Life (QoL)].
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients (88 women) of median age of 57 years were included. Patients with urge FI (n=25) and mixed FI (n=60) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the mean CCF-FI score (11.0 ± 4.1 to 8.3 ± 4.8 and 12.8 ± 3.7 to 9.1 ± 4.4) with an associated improvement in the QoL score. This effect was not observed in patients with purely passive FI (n=15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates that PTNS benefits patients with urge and mixed FI, at least in the short term.
authors.affiliation: Academic Surgical Unit, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK. alex007@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hotouras
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thaha
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: C L H
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013979:Tibial Nerve; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome