title: Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical posterior tibial nerve stimulation for the treatment of fecal and urinary leaks in children: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for the treatment of fecal and urinary incontinence in children with malformations of the bowel or neurological pathologies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Treatment of fecal and urinary leaks, in cases of congenital malformations remains a challenge. Recent studies in adults have shown the effectiveness of PTNS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children: 4 with anorectal malformations, 3 with neurological causes (1 medullary lipoma, 1 Arnold Chiari malformation, 1 sacrococcygeal teratoma) and 1 with Hirschsprung's disease presenting with serious anal incontinence, despite extensive bowel management during at least 2 years, were treated with PTNS. Six children had associated urinary leaks. Jorge-Wexner score for defecation and Schurch score for urine were used before treatment and after the second and sixth months of stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After six months, five patients had no more fecal leakage, two patients were improved and one did not respond. Five out of the 6 patients with urinary leaks were continent at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTNS is a noninvasive technique and painless modality which seems to be effective for the treatment of fecal and urinary leaks in children even with congenital digestive pathologies or neurological malformations. These results will be confirmed in a prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Department, Hopital Timone enfant, 264 rue St Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France. Electronic address: jean-francois.lecompte@ap-hm.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lecompte
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Department, Hopital Timone enfant, 264 rue St Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hery
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Department, Hopital Timone enfant, 264 rue St Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guys
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Department, Hopital Timone enfant, 264 rue St Pierre, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louis-Borrione
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013979:Tibial Nerve; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Congenital malformations; Fecal and urinary incontinence; Medullary abnormalities; Pediatric population; Tibial nerve stimulation