Peri-Operative Infection Control Measures for Implantation of Sacral Nerve Stimulators (SNS): A Scoping Review
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Updated: Oct 31, 2026
Implantation and Control of Wireless, Battery-free Systems for Peripheral Nerve Interfacing
Published on: October 20, 2021
Jessica Wynn1, David Hennes1,2, Kathryn McLeod1,3
1Department of Urology, University Hospital Geelong, Barwon Health, Australia.
Aims:
Sacral nerve stimulators (SNS) are used to treat refractory urinary symptoms, bowel symptoms, and pelvic pain. There is a risk of surgical site and implant infection; however, manufacturers have not released guidelines regarding infection prevention during their implantation. There are limited data on the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative considerations for infection prevention. We present a scoping review detailing the current strategies for infection prevention during implantation of SNS and propose a protocol for perioperative infection control strategies based on current available literature.
Methods:
A scoping review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analysis (PRISMA). A search strategy using search terms "sacral nerve stimulation," "infection," "infection control," and "infection prevention" was used. A search was conducted on medical databases, and a grey literature search was performed.
Results:
Forty-three articles were included for data extraction, published between 2003 and 2022. A total of 10,401 outcomes were reported. Pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative considerations and outcomes were extracted. Significant peri-operative considerations included the use of pre-operative chlorhexidine wash and the use of shallow pocket depths. There was limited data to support other infection control considerations and variability in practices within the SNS implanting community.
Conclusions:
Despite implant infection being a highly morbid and detrimental outcome for the patient, there is no clear consensus on what infection control measures should be routinely performed to reduce the risk of infection during the implantation process. The peri-operative considerations currently covered in the literature have little reported evidence to support the implementation of certain infection prevention considerations, and it seems their use is primarily driven by surgeon preference.