Electrical stimulation for the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Electrical stimulation offers an alternative approach to managing bladder control issues resulting from spinal cord injuries, contrasting with traditional methods for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). This review explores the use of electrical stimulation for bladder control after spinal cord injury, covering clinical applications and recent pre-clinical studies that suggest new strategies. The review suggests that combining targeted electrical stimulation with medication might be the best way to regain bladder control after a spinal cord injury.

• 1
  Electrical stimulation techniques, including pudendal nerve stimulation and high-frequency nerve block, show promise in controlling bladder function.
• 2
  Sacral anterior root stimulation (SARS) has been a successful electrical stimulation method for bladder control in SCI patients, but its use is limited due to the requirement for posterior rhizotomy and the complexity of the surgery.
• 3
  Pudendal nerve stimulation (PNS) can produce bladder inhibition or activation, and may be a useful alternative to sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for treating NLUTD following SCI.