Comparison of Sacral Nerve Modulation and Pudendal Nerve Stimulation in Treatment of Fecal Incontinence

Sacral nerve modulation (SNM) is an established treatment for refractory lower urinary tract and bowel dysfunction (Spinelli 2008). Pudendal nerve stimulation (PNS) has been proposed for patients failing SNM treatment of urinary dysfunction (Spinelli 2005). In this study SNM and PNS are compared for the treatment of fecal incontinence. In a test phase, both treatments will be applied for one week each in a randomized and blinded order (cross-over design). After the test phase the more successful treatment will be determined and applied permanently. If both treatments are equally sufficient, PNS will be chosen for permanent stimulation, since preliminary data indicate that PNS has a lower power consumption than SNM. Lower power consumption results in a longer lifetime of the stimulator, thus requiring less replacement surgeries.