[Afferent stimulation of the tibial nerve in patients with hyperactive bladder]

36 patients with overactive bladder (24 with idiopathic detrusor instability; 12 with detrusor hyperreflexia due to multiple sclerosis) underwent percutaneous afferent neuromodulation. The treatment consisted of percutaneous insertion of a 34-gauge solid stainless steel needle at a point of 5 cm cephald from the medial malleolus. The patients were treated weekly for 12 weeks for 30 minutes. A subjective effect was assessed using a dairy. An objective effect was analysed by urodynamic studies. We noticed a decrease in the average voiding frequency, number of leakage episodes and pad use per 24 hours after 12 sessions of the stimulation. Symptomatic improvement of more than 50% was achieved in 28 of 36 patients. No significant adverse events related to the treatment were observed. Thus, stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve is effective in patients with overactive bladder.