Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology
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Curr. Opin. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 2002
ReviewSacral neuromodulation: new applications in the treatment of female pelvic floor dysfunction.
The first sacral nerve stimulators implanted by Tanagho and Schmidt (1981) were performed for the indications of urinary urge incontinence, urgency-frequency, and nonobstructive urinary retention. Since that time, observations have been made for benefits beyond voiding disorders. These additional benefits have included re-establishment of pelvic floor muscle awareness, resolution of pelvic floor muscle tension and pain, decrease in vestibulitis and vulvadynia, decrease in bladder pain (interstitial cystitis), and normalization of bowel function. ⋯ While the data are encouraging in these new arenas of pelvic floor disorders, investigators acknowledge the need for multicenter, statistically powered studies to evaluate the validity of these findings.