Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation
Procedure overview
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive treatment
for overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. While many options are available for
the treatment of OAB, including behavioral modification, Pelvic Floor Muscle
Rehabilitation (PFMR) and medication, not all patients have success with these.
PTNS works by gentle electrical stimulation of the nerves of the sacral nerve
plexus to modify the bladder’s activity, sometimes referred to as
neuromodulation. The tibial nerve, located in the lower leg, can be accessed
with a sensor placed through the skin, the impulses then travel along the tibial
nerve and to the sacral nerve plexus.
After your physician determines that you may benefit from PTNS, you return for
an initial evaluation with our nurse practitioner who specializes in urinary
incontinence. A small needle electrode is inserted adjacent to the tibial nerve in
your lower leg and connected to the battery-powered stimulator. These gentle
impulses travel up the tibial nerve to the sacral nerve plexus to modify the
bladder’s activity. Each treatment last about thirty minutes, and an initial series
of twelve treatments are scheduled, each about a week apart. The entire
procedure is carried out in the comfort of our office, and following the initial series
of treatments you are evaluated by your doctor to assess your response to
treatment.