Tibial sensory neuropathy as a rare complication of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation

Excerpt

Inhibition of detrusor activity by peripheral neuromodulation of the posterior tibial nerve has recently gained much attention and several studies have demonstrated that percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) improves symptoms in 60 – 80 % of patients with medically refractory overactive bladder syndrome (OABS) [1, 2]. Review of the literature [3] on the use of PTNS to treat OABS [4], faecal incontinence [5] and pelvic pain revealed few data on potential long-term complications. Ankle bruising (0.9 %), discomfort at the needle site (1.8 %), localized bleeding (2.7 %) and tingling in the leg (0.9 %) have been described [4], but there have been no reports of any suggestions of prolonged peripheral nerve damage caused by this procedure. …