Feasibility Controlled Trial of Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Related Urinary Incontinence (TREAT-UI)

Glasgow Caledonian University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke; Urinary Incontinence

Treatments: Device: NeuroTrac continence stimulators

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02239796

TSA 2013/05

Details and patient eligibility

About

To aim of this study is to establish the feasibility of undertaking a phase III trial of transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve electrical stimulation (TPTNS) to alleviate stroke-related urinary incontinence.

Full description

Stroke-related urinary incontinence (UI) persists in more than one third of stroke survivors. It is associated with significant burden including reduced quality of life, increased morbidity and disability. Urgency UI, together with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms (frequency, urgency, nocturia), is most commonly experienced. Current continence care is limited to lifestyle advice and behavioural interventions such as voiding programmes. There is a reliance on containment approaches and a lack of available options for active treatment. Intermittent electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve (TPTNS) is effective for treating non-stroke neurogenic UI and OAB, but has not been tested in the stroke population. This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to test the potential effectiveness of TPTNS for stroke-related bladder dysfunction. Adults with stroke-related UI will be randomised to TPTNS or sham. They and/or their carer will be taught to self-deliver a programme of TPTNS over a six week period. Bladder function, associated healthcare costs and quality of life outcomes will be measured at 6, 12 and 26 weeks. A nested process evaluation will be conducted. Pilot RCT and process evaluation results will inform the design of a phase III RCT of TPTNS to treat urinary incontinence in the stroke population.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women aged ≥ 18 years, with a diagnosis of stroke based on the WHO criteria (WHO 1989) and stroke-related urinary incontinence of at least once weekly.
• Onset of stroke ≥ 4 weeks previously and discharged from hospital to own home following a new stroke episode within the previous 6 months.
• Physically, cognitively and communicatively able and willing to learn to apply TPTNS or has carer who is able and willing to learn.

Exclusion criteria

• Pre-existing urinary incontinence prior to stroke.
• Current Urinary Tract Infection.
• Voiding dysfunction requiring intermittent/indwelling catheterisation.
• Cardiac pacemaker in situ.
• Concurrent neurological diagnosis eg dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy.
• Reduced/absent sensation at electrode placement sites.
• Post-void residual urine volume of > 150ml.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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54 participants in 2 patient groups

TPTNS

Experimental group

Description:

12 stimulation sessions of 30 minutes duration, delivered twice weekly over a 6 week period using a NeuroTrac continence stimulator. Two surface electrodes are applied to the non-hemiparetic ankle, where appropriate, or the right ankle where no hemiparesis exists. The electrical stimulator is pre-programmed to safely deliver 30 minutes of continuous stimulation with a pulse frequency of 10 hertz and pulse width 200µs22. The intensity of the current will depend on the stroke survivor's perception threshold and individual comfort and is self-adjusted at each session, but will normally range between 15 and 40 milliamps.

Treatment:

Device: NeuroTrac continence stimulators

Device: NeuroTrac continence stimulators

Sham TPTNS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The sham stimulation group will self- or carer-deliver a similar programme of twelve, 30 minute sessions twice weekly for 6 weeks NeuroTrac continence stimulator. The surface electrodes will be positioned on the lateral malleolar area of the ankle, not the medial aspect, to avoid the posterior tibial nerve. The stimulation intensity will be increased until sensation is reported, then turned down to 4mA for the 30 minute session, ensuring that despite avoiding the posterior tibial nerve, there is no therapeutic stimulation provided.

Treatment:

Device: NeuroTrac continence stimulators

Device: NeuroTrac continence stimulators