• Rafet Sonmez, Necmettin Yildiz, and Hakan Alkan.
• Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 20100 Kınıklı, Denizli, Turkey.
• Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2021 Nov 11; 65 (1): 101486.

BackgroundDifferent studies have reported the efficacy of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in treating idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). However, no study has compared the effectiveness of PTNS and TTNS added to bladder training (BT) in idiopathic OAB.ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of PTNS and TTNS added to BT in women with idiopathic OAB.MethodsWe randomised 60 women with idiopathic OAB into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=19) received BT, Group 2 (n=19) received PTNS in addition to BT, and Group 3 (n=20) received TTNS in addition to BT. PTNS and TTNS were performed 2 days a week, for 30min a day, for a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated by incontinence severity (pad test), a 3-day voiding diary (frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia and number of pads used), symptom severity, quality of life, treatment success (positive response rate), treatment satisfaction (Likert scale), discomfort level and preparation time for stimulation (sec).ResultsAt the end of treatment; severity of incontinence, frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia, number of pads used, symptom severity and quality of life were significantly improved in Groups 2 and 3 versus Group 1 (P<0.0167). Treatment success and treatment satisfaction were higher in Groups 2 and 3 than Group 1 (P<0.001 and P<0.0167, respectively). Level of discomfort was lower, treatment satisfaction was higher and preparation time for stimulation was shorter in Group 3 than Group 2 (P<0.05).ConclusionBoth the PTNS plus BT and TTNS plus BT were more effective than BT alone in women with idiopathic OAB. These 2 tibial nerve stimulation methods had similar clinical efficacy but with slight differences: TTNS had shorter preparation time, less discomfort level and higher patient satisfaction than PTNS.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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