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Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation on Fecal Continence in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Rectal Neoplasia

2 juin 2026 mis à jour par: Meritxell Font Prat, Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa

Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation on Fecal Continence in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Rectal Neoplasia

Rectal neoplasia is one of the most prevalent cancers in Spain, and the treatment of choice is total mesorectal excision (TME), as it has demonstrated significant oncological improvements. However, mesorectal excision is not without complications, and patients often experience altered bowel function in the form of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), as well as erectile dysfunction. However, few studies evaluate faecal incontinence, as most focus on oncological outcomes.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of posterior tibial nerve stimulation on fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and quality of life in patients who underwent to rectal surgery for rectal neoplasia.

It will be conducted a randomized clinical trial (1:1) with two arms: half of the patients will receive posterior tibial nerve stimulation, while the other half will undergo stimulation with subtherapeutic doses. Faecal incontinence will be assessed using the LARS and Wexner questionnaires, and quality of life and sexual function will be assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQLS) and the Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-CR38), at one month, six months and one year after surgery.

Aperçu de l'étude

Type d'étude

Interventionnel

Inscription (Estimé)

84

Phase

  • N'est pas applicable

Contacts et emplacements

Cette section fournit les coordonnées de ceux qui mènent l'étude et des informations sur le lieu où cette étude est menée.

Coordonnées de l'étude

Lieux d'étude

    • Barcelona
      • Manresa, Barcelona, Espagne, 08243
        • Recrutement
        • Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa
        • Contact:
          • Anna Arnau, PhD
          • Numéro de téléphone: 3414 +34 93 875 93 00
          • E-mail: aarnau@althaia.cat
        • Chercheur principal:
          • Meritxell Font Prat, MD
      • Manresa, Barcelona, Espagne, 08243
        • Recrutement
        • Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa, Althaia
        • Contact:
        • Chercheur principal:
          • Ignasi Puig, Medical doctor
        • Sous-enquêteur:
          • Meritxell Font, Medical doctor
        • Sous-enquêteur:
          • Sheila Serra, Medical doctor

Critères de participation

Les chercheurs recherchent des personnes qui correspondent à une certaine description, appelée critères d'éligibilité. Certains exemples de ces critères sont l'état de santé général d'une personne ou des traitements antérieurs.

Critère d'éligibilité

Âges éligibles pour étudier

  • Adulte
  • Adulte plus âgé

Accepte les volontaires sains

Non

La description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Adult patients diagnosed with rectal neoplasia and who have undergone a high anterior rectal resection regardless of the surgical approach (open, laparoscopic, laparoscopic+TaTME or robotic+TaTME).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients not operated or within active surveillance strategy programs (watch & wait)
  • Patients with ostomy
  • Patients with contraindications to the use of the neurostimulator:

    • Pacemaker / Defibrillator / Other electronic devices
    • History of heart problems
    • Propensity to excessive bleeding (coagulopathies)
    • Damage to the nervous system (epilepsy)
    • Current pregnancy
    • Infections or skin lesions
    • Severe vascular disorders
    • Active neoplasms.

Plan d'étude

Cette section fournit des détails sur le plan d'étude, y compris la façon dont l'étude est conçue et ce que l'étude mesure.

Comment l'étude est-elle conçue ?

Détails de conception

  • Objectif principal: Traitement
  • Répartition: Randomisé
  • Modèle interventionnel: Affectation parallèle
  • Masquage: Quadruple

Armes et Interventions

Groupe de participants / Bras
Intervention / Traitement
Expérimental: Intervention group
Posterior tibial nerve stimulation with Beurer EM-49 digital neuroestimulator at complete doses

In the intervention group, Beurer EM-49 digital neurostimulator will be used, with CE marking, and a dose of 20 Hertz (Hz) - 200 microseconds (μs) will be applied.

As the control group and the intervention group, the pelvic floor rehabilitator will program the neurostimulator for each case and then they will be trained on how to perform the neurostimulation.

The first session will be carried out with the rehabilitator to learn how it works and resolve doubts about its use, and later the sessions will be carried out at home.

In both groups, a program for carrying out sessions will be indicated according to the following scheme:

  • From the 1st month to the 3rd month post-surgery: stimulation 3 times a week
  • From the 4th month to the 6th month post-surgery: stimulation 2 times a week
  • From the 7th to the 12th month post-surgery: 1 time a week
Comparateur factice: Control group
Posterior tibial nerve stimulation with Beurer EM-49 digital neuroestimulator at subtherapeutic doses

In the intervention group, Beurer EM-49 digital neurostimulator will be used, with CE marking; and a dose of 80 Hertz (Hz) - 150 microseconds (μs) will be applied.

As the control group and the intervention group, the pelvic floor rehabilitator will program the neurostimulator for each case and then they will be trained on how to perform the neurostimulation.

In order to apply the therapy, the patient must sit down for the placement of the electrodes.

It will be performed on 2 feet at the same time. The first session will be carried out with the rehabilitator to learn how it works and resolve doubts about its use, and later the sessions will be carried out at home.

In both groups, a program for carrying out sessions will be indicated according to the following scheme:

  • From the 1st month to the 3rd month post-surgery: stimulation 3 times a week
  • From the 4th month to the 6th month post-surgery: stimulation 2 times a week
  • From the 7th to the 12th month post-surgery: 1 time a week

Que mesure l'étude ?

Principaux critères de jugement

Mesure des résultats
Description de la mesure
Délai
Faecal incontinence (FI) - LARS 1st month
Délai: 1st month post-surgery
Assessed by LARS questionnaire Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS): LARS scale consists of 5 questions: gas incontinence (0,4,7 points), liquid incontinence (0,3,3 points), stool frequency (4,2,0,5 points), defecation fractionation (0,9,11 points) and defecatory urgency (0, 11,16 points). The score range is between 0 and 42 points. Patients are categorized into three groups: no LARS (0 to 20 points), mild LARS (21 to 29 points) and severe LARS (30 to 42 points).
1st month post-surgery
Faecal incontinence (FI) - LARS 6th month
Délai: 6th month post-surgery
Assessed by LARS questionnaire Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS): LARS scale consists of 5 questions: gas incontinence (0,4,7 points), liquid incontinence (0,3,3 points), stool frequency (4,2,0,5 points), defecation fractionation (0,9,11 points) and defecatory urgency (0, 11,16 points). The score range is between 0 and 42 points. Patients are categorized into three groups: no LARS (0 to 20 points), mild LARS (21 to 29 points) and severe LARS (30 to 42 points).
6th month post-surgery
Faecal incontinence (FI) - LARS 12th month
Délai: 12th month post-surgery
Assessed by LARS questionnaire Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS): LARS scale consists of 5 questions: gas incontinence (0,4,7 points), liquid incontinence (0,3,3 points), stool frequency (4,2,0,5 points), defecation fractionation (0,9,11 points) and defecatory urgency (0, 11,16 points). The score range is between 0 and 42 points. Patients are categorized into three groups: no LARS (0 to 20 points), mild LARS (21 to 29 points) and severe LARS (30 to 42 points).
12th month post-surgery
Feacal incontinence (FI) - Wexner 1st month
Délai: 1st month post-surgery
Assessed by Wexner questionnaire. Wexner scale consists of 5 questions (range 0-4): incontinence of solid stools, incontinence of liquid stools, incontinence of gases, use of pads or diapers and alteration of social life. Depending on the frequency, a score of 0 to 4 is assigned. The score can range from 0 to 20 points, considering no incontinence as 0 to 2 points, mild incontinence as a result of 3 to 6 points, moderate incontinence as 7 to 11 points and severe incontinence as a result greater than or equal to 12 points.
1st month post-surgery
Faecal incontinence (FI) - Wexner 6th month
Délai: 6th month post-surgery
Assessed by Wexner questionnaire. Wexner scale consists of 5 questions (range 0-4): incontinence of solid stools, incontinence of liquid stools, incontinence of gases, use of pads or diapers and alteration of social life. Depending on the frequency, a score of 0 to 4 is assigned. The score can range from 0 to 20 points, considering no incontinence as 0 to 2 points, mild incontinence as a result of 3 to 6 points, moderate incontinence as 7 to 11 points and severe incontinence as a result greater than or equal to 12 points.
6th month post-surgery
Faecal incontinece (FI) - Wexner 12th month
Délai: 12th month post-surgery
Assessed by Wexner questionnaire. Wexner scale consists of 5 questions (range 0-4): incontinence of solid stools, incontinence of liquid stools, incontinence of gases, use of pads or diapers and alteration of social life. Depending on the frequency, a score of 0 to 4 is assigned. The score can range from 0 to 20 points, considering no incontinence as 0 to 2 points, mild incontinence as a result of 3 to 6 points, moderate incontinence as 7 to 11 points and severe incontinence as a result greater than or equal to 12 points.
12th month post-surgery

Mesures de résultats secondaires

Mesure des résultats
Description de la mesure
Délai
Sexual impairment 1st month
Délai: 1st month post-surgery

Assessed by QLQ-CR38 questionnaire (question 17-18 for both sexes, 20-21 for men and 22-23 for women).

Each question can be answered from 1 to 4 points. And then is it calculated in the sexual impairment analysis (symptoms area)

1st month post-surgery
Sexual impairment - 6th month
Délai: 6th month post-surgery
Assessed by QLQ-CR38 questionnaire (question 17-18 for both sexes, 20-21 for men and 22-23 for women). Each question can be answered from 1 to 4 points. And then is it calculated in the sexual impairment analysis (symptoms area)
6th month post-surgery
Sexual impairment - 12th month
Délai: 12th month post-surgery
Assessed by QLQ-CR38 questionnaire (question 17-18 for both sexes, 20-21 for men and 22-23 for women). Each question can be answered from 1 to 4 points. And then is it calculated in the sexual impairment analysis (symptoms area)
12th month post-surgery
Quality of life (QoL) - FIQLS 1st month
Délai: 1st month post-surgery

Assessed by:

-Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale(FIQLS):composed of 29 items that evaluate 4 health dimensions:lifestyle(10 items),behavior(9 items),depression/self-esteem(7 items) and shame(3 items).Each item has a range from 1 to 5,with 1 being the minimum value for the quality of life state.

1st month post-surgery
Quality of life (QoL) - FIQLS 6th month
Délai: 6th month post-surgery

Assessed by:

-Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale(FIQLS):composed of 29 items that evaluate 4 health dimensions:lifestyle(10 items),behavior(9 items),depression/self-esteem(7 items) and shame(3 items).Each item has a range from 1 to 5,with 1 being the minimum value for the quality of life state

6th month post-surgery
Quality of life (QoL) - FIQLS 12th month
Délai: 12th month post-surgery

Assessed by:

-Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale(FIQLS):composed of 29 items that evaluate 4 health dimensions:lifestyle(10 items),behavior(9 items),depression/self-esteem(7 items) and shame(3 items).Each item has a range from 1 to 5,with 1 being the minimum value for the quality of life state

12th month post-surgery
Quality of life (QoL) - QLQ-CR 38 1st month
Délai: 1st month

Assessed by:

-Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(QLQ-CR38):organized into 2 areas: 1.Functioning area,which includes the body image and sexual functioning scales and the items on enjoying sex and worrying about the future.2.Symptom area with scales for problems with urination,gastrointestinal symptoms,chemotherapy side effects,problems with defecation,problems with the stoma,sexual problems in men and women,and the weight loss item. All scores ranged 1 to 4, and then are lineal transformation is done (0 to 100). In the functioning area,a higher score indicates a better quality of life,while in the symptom area, a higher score indicates a worse quality

1st month
Quality of life (QoL) - QLQ-CR38 6th month
Délai: 6th month post-surgery

Assessed by:

-Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(QLQ-CR38):organized into 2 areas: 1.Functioning area,which includes the body image and sexual functioning scales and the items on enjoying sex and worrying about the future.2.Symptom area with scales for problems with urination,gastrointestinal symptoms,chemotherapy side effects,problems with defecation,problems with the stoma,sexual problems in men and women,and the weight loss item. All scores ranged 1 to 4, and then are lineal transformation is done (0 to 100). In the functioning area,a higher score indicates a better quality of life,while in the symptom area, a higher score indicates a worse quality

6th month post-surgery
Quality of life (QoL) - QLQ-CR38 12th month
Délai: 12th month post-surgery

Assessed by:

-Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire(QLQ-CR38):organized into 2 areas: 1.Functioning area,which includes the body image and sexual functioning scales and the items on enjoying sex and worrying about the future.2.Symptom area with scales for problems with urination,gastrointestinal symptoms,chemotherapy side effects,problems with defecation,problems with the stoma,sexual problems in men and women,and the weight loss item. All scores ranged 1 to 4, and then are lineal transformation is done (0 to 100). In the functioning area,a higher score indicates a better quality of life,while in the symptom area, a higher score indicates a worse quality

12th month post-surgery
Patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I)
Délai: 1 year

Assessed by PGI-I questionnaire.

The Patient Global Improvement Visual Analogue Scale (PGI-I) will be used to allow patients to comparatively assess their degree of global improvement after undergoing posterior tibial nerve stimulation therapy. The scale in question has only one question that asks the patient to classify the degree of symptom relief obtained with the treatment according to the 7-point Likert scale. The higher the score, the better the perception of quality of life.

1 year

Autres mesures de résultats

Mesure des résultats
Description de la mesure
Délai
Patient's characteristics
Délai: At the enrollment
Age at diagnosis (years), sex (man/woman), height (m), weight (kg), BMI (kg/m2), prior anorectal disease (yes and not, if yes should specify)
At the enrollment
Concomitant medication for stool
Délai: At the enrollment
methylcellulose, loperamide, ... (yes or no, if yes should specify)
At the enrollment
Tumor characteristics
Délai: At the enrollment
Date of diagnosis (exact day), clinical TNM stage (TNM), tumour height from the anal verge by colonoscopy (cm) and proctoscopy (cm) magnetic resonance imaging findings (TNM, cm to anal verge), neadjuvant treatment (yes or no, which type), CEA values (ng/mL), neutrophil and lymphocyte values pre and post-chemotherapy (absolut value x10e9)
At the enrollment
Surgical details
Délai: At the enrollment
Date of surgery, surgical approach (laparoscopic (LAP), robotic (ROB), LAP + transanal (TaTME), ROB + TaTME), transanal extraction of the specimen (yes or no), intraoperative complications (specify), type of anastomosis (mechanic, manual), height of anastomosis (cm), protective ileostomy (yes or no)
At the enrollment
Follow-up
Délai: From the surgical day (day 1) to the end of the study (day 360)
Days of hospital stay (days), days until intake (days), postoperative complications (yes or no, if yes specify and complete Clavien-Dindo clasification), treatment of postoperative complication (need of new surgery, yes or no, if yes specify surgical procedure), readmission (yes or no, specify why)
From the surgical day (day 1) to the end of the study (day 360)
Esphinteric funcionality
Délai: At 1st month and 12th month from day 1 (surgery day)
Rectal examination with basal tone and transperineal ultrasound (normal, insufficient expulsive maneuver, sphincter defect, anism, rectal hypersensitivity, rectal hyposensitivity, not performed), Oxford classification of esphinteric muscular strenght (0 to 5, being 5 good function).
At 1st month and 12th month from day 1 (surgery day)
Compliance diary
Délai: 1 year
Registration of the sessions done and observations
1 year

Collaborateurs et enquêteurs

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Publications et liens utiles

La personne responsable de la saisie des informations sur l'étude fournit volontairement ces publications. Il peut s'agir de tout ce qui concerne l'étude.

Liens utiles

Dates d'enregistrement des études

Ces dates suivent la progression des dossiers d'étude et des soumissions de résultats sommaires à ClinicalTrials.gov. Les dossiers d'étude et les résultats rapportés sont examinés par la Bibliothèque nationale de médecine (NLM) pour s'assurer qu'ils répondent à des normes de contrôle de qualité spécifiques avant d'être publiés sur le site Web public.

Dates principales de l'étude

Début de l'étude (Réel)

6 février 2026

Achèvement primaire (Estimé)

31 décembre 2027

Achèvement de l'étude (Estimé)

31 décembre 2028

Dates d'inscription aux études

Première soumission

6 février 2026

Première soumission répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité

2 juin 2026

Première publication (Réel)

8 juin 2026

Mises à jour des dossiers d'étude

Dernière mise à jour publiée (Réel)

8 juin 2026

Dernière mise à jour soumise répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité

2 juin 2026

Dernière vérification

1 mai 2026

Plus d'information

Termes liés à cette étude

Plan pour les données individuelles des participants (IPD)

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NON

Description du régime IPD

It is planned to publish the complete result data without providing specific participant data.

Informations sur les médicaments et les dispositifs, documents d'étude

Étudie un produit pharmaceutique réglementé par la FDA américaine

Non

Étudie un produit d'appareil réglementé par la FDA américaine

Non

produit fabriqué et exporté des États-Unis.

Non

Ces informations ont été extraites directement du site Web clinicaltrials.gov sans aucune modification. Si vous avez des demandes de modification, de suppression ou de mise à jour des détails de votre étude, veuillez contacter register@clinicaltrials.gov. Dès qu'un changement est mis en œuvre sur clinicaltrials.gov, il sera également mis à jour automatiquement sur notre site Web .

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