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CompletedNCT06130306Updated Jun 13, 2025

A PSM Analysis to Evaluate Electrical Pudendal Nerve Stimulation for PPI

An observational study in Urinary Incontinence Following Surgical Procedure, sponsored by Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-06-13.

Sponsored by Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
389
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

The goal of this propensity score matching study is to compare the posttreatment outcomes of post-radical prostatectomy Incontinence patients undergoing either electrical pudendal nerve stimulation or pelvic floor muscle training combined with transanal electrical stimulation.

Read the detailed description

Prostate cancer is the predominant form of cancer in older males. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the sole treatment that enhances both overall survival and cancer-specific survival.Urinary incontinence remains a major morbidity associated with this procedure, greatly affecting patient satisfaction following RP. Extant research underscores the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in improving the strength and function of specific pelvic floor muscles, causing hypertrophy of peri-urethral striated muscles, thereby increasing the external mechanical pressure on the urethra. Another promising physiotherapy for post-radical prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) is electrical pudendal nerve stimulation (EPNS). An increasing body of research focuses on comparing continence restoration outcomes between PFMT and various electrical stimulations. However, such studies encompass cases with multiple pathological characteristics, and the reported data might not be considered representative or applicable to other populations due to overlooked confounding factors or selection bias. Thus, the investigators intend to conduct a propensity score matching (PSM) study aiming to compare the posttreatment outcomes of patients undergoing either EPNS or PFMT combined with TES, while ensuring a well-balanced control for confounding factor.

02

Conditions studied

  • Urinary Incontinence Following Surgical Procedure
03

In context

Urinary Incontinence

1,363 studies on the registry are indexed under Urinary Incontinence; 228 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 389 is above the median of 120 across 305 observational studies indexed under Urinary Incontinence.

Browse Urinary Incontinence studies →

Lead sponsor

Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian is the lead sponsor of 29 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Patients aged between 18-80 with post-radical prostatectomy incontinence treated at 3 tertiary academic medical centers between 2012 and 2020 were retrieved.

Inclusion criteria

  • Onset of urinary incontinence at least 1 month post-RP
  • Minimum two documented incontinence episodes per week in a 7-day bladder diary
  • Pathological confirmation of no residual cancer post-RP

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • High pathological risk factors (e.g., lymph node metastasis, resection margin involvement, bulky tumors)
  • Preoperative incontinence
  • Prior anticholinergic treatment
  • Urinary tract infection or hematuria
  • Postvoid residual volume exceeding 100 ml (determined by bladder ultrasound)
  • Neurological disorders
  • Urethral stricture
05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
389 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Electrical Pudendal Nerve Stimulation Group

    Electrical Pudendal Nerve Stimulation

    Procedure: electrical pudendal nerve stimulation

  • Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Group

    Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Plus Transanal Electrical Stimulation

    Procedure: pelvic floor muscle training combined with transanal electrical stimulation

Interventions

  • Procedureelectrical pudendal nerve stimulation

    The patient was positioned prone post-micturition. Long needles (0.40 Х 100 mm) were inserted perpendicularly, 1 cm bilateral to the sacrococcygeal joint, to a depth of 80-90 mm, eliciting sensations referred to the urethra or anus. The lower points, 1 cm bilateral to the coccyx tip, received oblique insertion of longer needles (0.40 Х 125 mm) toward the ischiorectal fossa (90-110 mm depth), inducing sensations precisely to the urethra. Connected to a G6805-2 Multi-Purpose Health Device, the ipsilateral needles created an electric loop, with the upper as anode and lower as cathode. Direct electrical stimulation (2.5 Hz, 25\~35 mA) for 45 minutes targeted the pudendal nerve, thrice weekly for a minimum of 8 weeks. The treatment plan remains ongoing until the patient opts to discontinue voluntarily.

  • Procedurepelvic floor muscle training combined with transanal electrical stimulation

    Electromyogram BF-assisted PFMT (using a nerve function reconstruction treatment system \[AM1000B; Shenzhen Creative Industry Co. Ltd, China\]) and following TES (using a neuromuscular stimulation therapy system (PHENIX USB 4, Electronic Concept Lignon Innovation, France)) at a current intensity of \< 60 mA (as high as possible to get a PFM contraction) and frequencies of 15 Hz and 85 Hz (alternate 3-minute periods of stimulation) were performed by a specially trained therapist, 20 minutes each time, respectively (a total of 40 minutes), 3 times a week for a total of 8 weeks. The patients also conducted 30 maximal high-intensity PFM contractions for 2-6 seconds (with 2-6 seconds rest), 3 sessions every day at home for a total of 8 weeks. If the patient is willing, the treatment plan can continue until the patient voluntarily decides to stop.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-short form score (ICIQ-SF)

    The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) is a validated and widely used questionnaire to assess and measure the impact of urinary incontinence on an individual's quality of life. This part includes a set of simple questions related to urinary incontinence symptoms, which the individual answers. The questions address the type and frequency of incontinence episodes, as well as their impact on daily life. The higher the score, the more severe the condition.

    Time frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (day after 24th treatment); T2 (day after 36th treatment); T3 (day after 48th treatment); T4 (day after 60th treatment); T5 (day after 72nd treatment).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pad-counting Score

    the number of urine pad consumption in 24 hours.The higher the score, the more severe the condition.

    Time frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (day after 24th treatment); T2 (day after 36th treatment); T3 (day after 48th treatment); T4 (day after 60th treatment); T5 (day after 72nd treatment).

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Shanghai research institute of acupuncture and meridian
    Shanghai, 200030, China
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — If necessary, contact Dr. Siyou Wang to provide the original data.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 13, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06130306
Lead sponsor
Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian
Collaborators
Shanghai Pudong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 14, 2023
Start date
Dec 1, 2023
Primary completion
Nov 30, 2024
Completion
Dec 31, 2024
Last update
Jun 13, 2025

Study contacts

Siyou Wang
principal investigator · Shanghai research institute of acupuncture and meridian

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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