Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for the Treatment of Nocturnal Enuresis in Children

Children referred to the pediatric urology clinic for primary nocturnal enuresis will be screened for enrollment. Patients who fail behavioral therapy and who meet inclusion criteria will be offered therapy with a TENS unit.

Patients will be randomized into four groups. Group 1 will be the direct bladder stimulation arm with electrodes placed onto the abdomen in the suprapubic region directly over the bladder. Group 2 will be the distal neural loop arm with electrodes placed over the posterior tibial nerve. Group 3 will be the proximal neural loop arm with electrodes placed about 2-3 cm lateral to the midline in the sacral region at the level of S3. Group 4 will be the control arm with electrodes placed on the scapula. We will aim to recruit 32 patients per group for a total of 128 patients. The patients will be provided with a TENS unit (TENS 3000 Analog) and electrode pads and caretakers instructed on how to use the apparatus.

The TENS sessions will be performed nightly before bed for 15 minutes. TENS units will be set at a frequency of 10 Hz, and intensity determined by the sensitivity threshold of the patient. Diaries including nighttime incontinence episodes and a "wet sheet" scale (dry, damp, wet, soaked) will be recorded, along with any adverse reactions to the TENS unit. Patients will be followed up after one month of TENS with evaluation including the Pediatric Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire, a validated tool for measuring quality of life in children with bladder dysfunction; this questionnaire will be filled out prior to starting TENS treatment in order to compare the effect of treatment on QOL. . They will then follow up on these parameters again after another month (one month off of TENS therapy) to assess the durability of treatment effect. The data will be collected at different time points (baseline, 1 month, 2 months) for each group by itself and the groups compared against each other using statistical analysis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nocturnal Enuresis; Bedwetting
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation

Detailed Description

Institutional review board was obtained. Children ages 5-18 years old referred to the pediatric urology clinic for primary nocturnal enuresis will be screened for enrollment. Behavioral therapy (limiting evening drinking, double voiding prior to bedtime, bowel habits, social anxiety factors) will be utilized first. Patients who fail will next be offered therapy with a bedwetting alarm device or a TENS unit as an alternative, and those who chose TENS therapy will be included in the study. Patients who have previously tried pharmacologic treatment for nocturnal enuresis, neuromodulation or other alternative therapy for urologic disorders, daytime incontinence symptoms, known "high volume" voiders (determined from history), bedwetting episodes on the average of less than two times per week, medications predisposing to incontinence (eg, Lithium for bipolar disorder), other known voiding or neurologic disorders (eg, overactive bladder, myelomeningocele), secondary etiologies for nocturnal enuresis (eg, cystitis, obstructive sleep apnea, urinary fistulae), and any contraindications to usage of a TENS unit such as having a pacemaker will be excluded. Patients who have previously tried the bedwetting alarm will not be excluded from the study. 128 patients will be chosen for enrollment into the study.

The patients will be randomized into four groups of 32 patients each. Group 1 will be the direct bladder stimulation arm with electrodes placed onto the abdomen in the suprapubic region directly over the bladder. Group 2 will be the distal neural loop arm with electrodes placed onto the bottom of the feet. Group 3 will be the proximal neural loop arm with electrodes placed about 2-3 cm lateral to the midline in the sacral region at the level of S3. Group 4 will be the sham arm with electrodes placed on the scapula. We will aim to recruit 32 patients per group for a total of 128 patients. Detailed explanation of the purpose of the study, along with the risks and benefits of TENS will be given to the patient and caretakers by a provider prior to obtaining informed consent for enrollment into the study. The patients will be provided with a TENS unit and electrode pads and caretakers instructed on how to use the apparatus.

Parents of enrolled patients will fill out nightly voiding diaries, recording nighttime incontinence episodes and subjective "wet sheets" scale per night (dry, damp, wet, soaked) for 30 days prior to randomization into the treatment arms. The TENS sessions will be performed nightly at bedtime for 15 minutes for 30 days. TENS units will be set at a frequency of 10 Hz, and intensity determined in the office by the sensitivity threshold of the patient. Voiding diaries will be kept each night while on TENS therapy, additionally recording which TENS setting was used, duration of therapy each night, and any adverse reactions to the TENS unit or increased symptoms (these patients will be terminated from the study and included as a treatment failure). Diaries will then be kept for 30 days after TENS therapy was completed to assess durability of treatment effects. At voiding diary day 30 (before first TENS treatment), day 60 (after completion of TENS therapy), and day 90 (one month off of TENS), patients and families will fill out the Pediatric Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire (PIN-Q), a validated tool for measuring quality of life in children with bladder dysfunction. Patients will follow up at days 0, 30, 60, 90, and as needed (worsening symptoms, adverse reactions, concerns, and questions regarding usage of TENS). Parents will be called on a weekly basis throughout the study to ensure compliance and address any questions or concerns. The results of mean nightly incontinence episodes, mean "wet sheets" scale score (0-3), and PIN-Q will be measured between time points (baseline, 1 month, 2 months for each group by itself and the groups compared against each other using statistical analysis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 147
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Albany, New York, United States, 12208
      • Albany Medical College
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11220
      • Pediatric Urology Associates
    • New Hyde Park, New York, United States, 11040
      • Cohen Children's Medical Center of NY
    • New Hyde Park, New York, United States, 11042
      • Pediatric Urology Associates
    • Tarrytown, New York, United States, 10591
      • Pediatric Urology Associates

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• primary nocturnal enuresis
• wet nights occur more than once per week on average
• Failed Behavioral therapy treatment (limiting evening drinking, double voiding prior to bedtime, bowel habits, social anxiety factors)
• ability to provide informed consent and complete study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

• the use of medications for nocturnal enuresis (DDAVP, imipramine, anticholinergics) less than 30 days from time of appointment
• daytime incontinence
• Known "high volume" voiders
• medications predisposing to incontinence (eg, Lithium for bipolar disorder)
• other known voiding or neurologic disorders (eg, overactive bladder, spina bifida, interstitial cystitis)
• secondary etiologies for nocturnal enuresis (cystitis, obstructive sleep apnea, urinary fistula)
• any contraindication to TENS unit usage (pacemaker or other implantable devices, lymphedema, pregnancy, malignancy)
• Any history of heart disease or complications

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Suprapubic TENS; electrodes, 'transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation' placed onto the lower abdomen in the suprapubic region directly over the bladder	Device: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation; electrodes placed per treatment arm, performed at bedtime, session time 15 min, frequency setting of 10 Hz, intensity setting to patient's tolerance, duration 30 days; Other Names: TENS unit
Experimental: Posterior Tibial TENS; electrodes, 'transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation' placed over the posterior tibial nerve behind the medial malleolus of the ankle and another electrode on the bottom of the foot	Device: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation; electrodes placed per treatment arm, performed at bedtime, session time 15 min, frequency setting of 10 Hz, intensity setting to patient's tolerance, duration 30 days; Other Names: TENS unit
Experimental: Parasacral TENS; electrodes, 'transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation' placed over the S3 foramen on the sacrum on each side of the midline in the lower back/upper buttocks	Device: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation; electrodes placed per treatment arm, performed at bedtime, session time 15 min, frequency setting of 10 Hz, intensity setting to patient's tolerance, duration 30 days; Other Names: TENS unit
Placebo Comparator: Shoulder TENS; electrodes, 'transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation' placed over the scapula on the shoulder/back	Device: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation; electrodes placed per treatment arm, performed at bedtime, session time 15 min, frequency setting of 10 Hz, intensity setting to patient's tolerance, duration 30 days; Other Names: TENS unit

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Wet nights	Total number of change in wet nights compared in each TENS arm to control and baseline wet nights	60 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Severity	compare monthly mean "wet scale" score of each TENS arm to control and baseline score	60 days
Patient compliance	assess patient tolerance to TENS therapy and ability to perform TENS therapy at home (correct session time, settings, and consistency of use)	60 days
Quality of Life Scores	compare PIN-Q scores at initial visit, after baseline month, after one month of using TENS	60 days
Adverse reactions	record any adverse reactions to TENS therapy	60 days
Durability	compare patient response, monthly number of wet nights, "wet scale" score (severity), and PIN-Q score (quality of life) of each TENS arm one month after stopping TENS and compare to baseline data and immediately after one month of TENS therapy	90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwell Health
• Collaborators: Albany Medical College; Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lane S Palmer, MD, Cohen Children's Medical Center of NY

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kajbafzadeh AM, Sharifi-Rad L, Mozafarpour S, Ladi-Seyedian SS. Efficacy of transcutaneous interferential electrical stimulation in treatment of children with primary nocturnal enuresis: a randomized clinical trial. Pediatr Nephrol. 2015 Jul;30(7):1139-45. doi: 10.1007/s00467-014-3039-5. Epub 2015 Jan 25.
• Lordelo P, Benevides I, Kerner EG, Teles A, Lordelo M, Barroso U Jr. Treatment of non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis by transcutaneous parasacral electrical nerve stimulation. J Pediatr Urol. 2010 Oct;6(5):486-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2009.11.005.
• Barroso U Jr, Lordelo P, Lopes AA, Andrade J, Macedo A Jr, Ortiz V. Nonpharmacological treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction using biofeedback and transcutaneous electrical stimulation: a pilot study. BJU Int. 2006 Jul;98(1):166-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06264.x.

Helpful Links

• Pediatric Urology Associates, P.C.
• Cohen Children's Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 15, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): September 15, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 28, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 8, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): September 14, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 21, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: TENS; Nocturnal Enuresis; Bedwetting
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Urologic Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Urination Disorders; Elimination Disorders; Urinary Incontinence; Enuresis; Nocturnal Enuresis
• Other Study ID Numbers: HS16-0389

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: No plans to share this information