Functional magnetic stimulation can improve the urination of persons with urine retention after a spinal cord injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe any effect of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) of the sacral 3 nerve root on relieving urine retention after a spinal cord injury.Methods:Forty-four patients with neurogenic bladder disorders after a spinal cord injury were divided at random into a 5Hz group ( n=14), a 20Hz group ( n=15), and a sham stimulation group ( n=15). In addition to conventional bladder control training, the 5Hz and 20Hz groups were given 20 minutes of FMS of the sacral 3 nerve root at the appropriate frequency five days a week for 4 weeks. The sham stimulation group was not given any stimulation. A detailed urination diary was kept during the treatment, and before and after the 4 weeks, everyone′s bladder pressure volume was assessed and an electromyogram was recorded. Results:After the treatment those in the 5Hz and 20Hz groups had improved significantly in terms of average bladder capacity, bladder pressure, residual urine volume, daily number of urethral catheterizations, daily micturition frequency, single urine output, H-reflex latency, and the amplitude and incubation period of the F wave. Those in the sham stimulation group showed no consistent improvement in any of these indicators. Moreover, the average residual urine volume, daily urination frequency and H-reflex latency and amplitude of the 20Hz group were significantly better than those of the 5Hz group.Conclusions:Magnetic stimulation of the S3 nerve roots can effectively improve the urination of persons with neurogenic bladder disorders after a spinal cord injury. The preferred frequency is 20Hz.