The overall goal of this research is to determine the efficacy of a sham for posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS). This novel design is needed in order to have a sham treatment that is similar to the actual treatment. The PTNS is used to treat urgency and frequency in people with overactive bladder (OAB). Until research is done using a sham component, we are unable to ascertain if the current use of PTNS is due to a placebo effect.
Subjects will be healthy volunteers who are recruited by word of mouth. At their office visit with the Nurse Practitioner (NP), the subject's history and medication list will be reviewed. The NP will randomize subjects into groups: one group with the PTNS on the right and sham on the left; the other group with the PTNS on the left and sham on the right. There will be a maximum of 30 subjects tested, and up to 50 people screened. The subjects will have 1 session for the testing of the PTNS vs sham that will include 15 minutes of stimulation as noted below. All participants will be blinded to the therapy they receive as described below.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
The PTNS device (Urgent® PC) is a minimally invasive neuromodulation system designed to deliver retrograde access to the sacral nerve through percutaneous electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve (PTNS). It is a combination of a stimulator and a lead set. The stimulator is a battery powered, external pulse generator and is designed, constructed, and manufactured for multiple use in conjunction with the lead set. The lead set (comprised of the lead wires, needle electrode, and alcohol pad) transfers the electrical current from the stimulator to the tibial nerve via the needle electrode. The tibial nerve travels up the leg to the sacral nerve plexus which regulates the bladder and pelvic floor function.
This 2- piece needle, comprised of a needle handle and blunt-tip shaft feels like a slight prick when touched to the skin. However the shaft retracts as it appears to enter the skin but the skin is not punctured. The Streitberger needle specifically activates the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is associated with the placebo effect.
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of a sham for posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS).
Time frame: Prospective
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.