A systematic review of clinical studies on electrical stimulation therapy for patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) results from nerve damage, causing loss of normal bowel function. Common symptoms include fecal incontinence, difficulty with evacuation, constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating. Electrical stimulation is being explored as a treatment for NBD after spinal cord injury (SCI).

• 1
  The review included 11 clinical studies, finding that electrical stimulation may benefit patients with NBD after SCI.
• 2
  Types of electrical stimulation included transcutaneous, transrectal, intravesical, and sacral nerve stimulation.
• 3
  The review highlights that current evidence is insufficient to fully support the use of electrical stimulation for improving clinical symptoms of NBD after SCI.