Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation of the Foot: Results of a Novel At-home, Noninvasive Treatment for Nocturnal Enuresis in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a novel at-home approach to electrical foot stimulation of peripheral tibial nerve branches on the frequency of nocturnal enuresis episodes in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged 5 to 18 having 2 or more bedwetting episodes per week for at least 3 consecutive months were eligible. The study was a total of 6 weeks. Participants completed a baseline nighttime voiding diary during the first 2 weeks. This was followed by 2 weeks of foot stimulation for 60 minutes each night. During the stimulation period, and the following 2 weeks poststimulation, participants completed the nighttime voiding diary.

RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with a mean age of 11.4 years (range 7-16) completed the study. Overall, there was a significant reduction in mean total wet nights from 9.0 ± 4.0 to 6.8 ± 4.8 during the stimulation period (P < .01) and a sustained significant reduction to 7.2 ± 5.0 wet nights during the poststimulation period (P = .02). Sixteen patients (72.7%) showed improvement of at least 1 less wet night during stimulation, demonstrating a significant improvement from a mean of 7.9 ± 3.7 to 4.8 ± 3.5 wet nights during the 2-week stimulation (P < .01) and maintained an improved mean of 5.1 ± 4.0 wet nights during the poststimulation period (P < .01). There were no adverse events experienced by any child.

CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous foot stimulation is a well-tolerated, noninvasive, at-home treatment that may reduce the number of wet nights in children with nocturnal enuresis.