Abstract
Background
Neural prostheses are a technology that uses electrical activation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological or sensory impairment.
Introduction
This article provides an introduction to neural prostheses and lists the most successful neural prostheses (in terms of implanted devices).
Current treatment
The article then focuses on neurogenic bladder dysfunction and describes two clinically available implantable neural prostheses for treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Special attention is given to the usage of these neural prostheses in children.
Future treatment
Finally, three new developments that may lead to a new generation of implantable neural prostheses for bladder control are described. They may improve the neural prostheses currently available and expand further the population of patients who can benefit from a neural prosthesis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahams P, Freeman R, Anderström C, Mattiasson A (1998) Telterodine, a new antimuscarinic agent: as effective but better tolerated than oxybutynin in patients with an overactive bladder. Br J Urol 81:801–810
Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, van Kerrebroeck P, Victor A, Wein A (2002) The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation subcommittee of the international continence society. Neurourol Urodyn 21:167–178
Batista JE, Bauer SB, Shefner JM, Kelly MD, Darbey MD, Siroky MB (1995) Urodynamic findings in children with spinal cord ischemia. J Urol 154:1183–1187
Bhadra N, Grunewald V, Creasey G, Mortimer JT (2002) Selective suppression of sphincter activation during sacral anterior nerve root stimulation. Neurourol Urodyn 21:55–64
Blaivas JG (1990) Mechanism of micturition. In: Chrisholm GD, Fair W (eds) Scientific foundations of urology. Heinemann Medical, Oxford, pp 285–293
Boon P, Vonck K, de Reuck J, Caemaert J (2001) Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy. Seizure 10:448–455
Bosch JLH, Groen J (1996) Treatment of refractory urge urinary incontinence with sacral spinal nerve stimulation in multiple sclerosis patients. Lancet 348:717–719
Bosch JLH, Groen J (2000) Sacral nerve neuromodulation in the treatment of patients with refractory motor urge incontinence: long-term results of a prospective longitudinal study. J Urol 163:1219–1222
Braun PM, Baezner H, Seif C, Boehler G, Bross S, Eschenfelder CC, Alken P, Hennerici M, Juenemann P (2002) Alterations of cortical electrical activity in patients with sacral neuromodulator. Eur Urol 41:562–567
Brindley GS (1994) The first 500 patients with sacral anterior root stimulator implants: general description. Paraplegia 32:795–805
Brindley GS (1995) The first 500 patients with sacral anterior root stimulator implants: implant failures and their repair. Paraplegia 33:5–9
Brindley GS (2002) The Finetech-Brindley bladder controller: Notes for surgeons and physicians. Finetech Medical, Welwyn Garden City, UK
Brindley GS, Craggs MD (1980) A technique for anodally blocking large nerve fibres through chronically implanted electrodes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 43:1083–1090
Brindley GS, Donaldson PEK (1986) Electrolytic current-control elements for surgically implanted electrical devices. Med Biol Eng Comput 24:439–441
Brindley GS, Rushton DN (1990) Long-term follow-up of patients with sacral anterior root stimulator implants. Paraplegia 28:469–475
Brubaker L, Benson JT, Bent A, Clark A, Shott S (1997) Transvaginal electrical stimulation for female urinary incontinence. Am J Obstet Gynecol 177:536–540
Carone R, Bertapelle P, Zanollo A, Spinelli M, Del Popolo G, Lombardi G et al (1999) Sacral neuromodulation in neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions: results of a multicenter study group. Urodinamica 9:177–182
Chancellor MB, de Groat WC (1999) Intravesical capsaicin and resiniferatoxin therapy: spicing up the ways to treat the overactive bladder. J Urol 162:3–11
Chartier-Kastler EJ, Bosch RJL, Perrigot M, Chancellor MB, Richard F, Denys P (2000) Long-term results of sacral nerve stimulation (S3) for the treatment of neurogenic refractory urge incontinence related to detrusor hyperreflexia. J Urol 164:1476–1480
Chartier-Kastler EJ, Denys P, Chancellor MB, Haertig A, Bussel B, Richard F (2001) Urodynamic monitoring during percutaneous sacral nerve neurostimulation in patients with neurogenic detrusor hyperreflexia. Neurourol Urodyn 20:61–71
Creasey G, Elefteriades JA, DiMarco A, Talonen P, Bijak M, Girsch W, Kantor C (1996) Electrical stimulation to restore respiration. J Rehabil Res Dev 33:123–133
Creasey GH, Grill JH, Korsten M, U HS, Betz R, Anderson R, Walter J (2001) An implantable neuroprosthesis for restoring bladder and bowel control to patients with spinal cord injuries: a multicenter trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 82:1512–1519
Dalmose AL, Rijkhoff NJM, Nøhr M, Kirkeby HJ, Sinkjaer T, Djurhuus JC (2003) Conditional stimulation of the dorsal/clitoral nerve may increase cystometric capacity in spinal cord injured. Neurourol Urodyn 22:130–137
Deuschl G, Bain P (2002) Deep brain stimulation for tremor (correction for trauma): patient selection and evaluation. Mov Disord 17 [Suppl 3]:S102–S111
De Wachter S, Pauwels E, van Meel TD, Wyndaele J (2002) Comparison of voiding dynamics in genuine stress incontinent women and normal healthy volunteers. Neurourol Urodyn 21:432–434
Egon G, Barat M, Colombel P, Visentin C, Isambert JL, Guerin J (1998) Implantation of anterior sacral root stimulators combined with posterior sacral rhizotomy in spinal injury patients. World J Urol 16:342–349
Fall M, Lindstrom S (1991) Electrical stimulation: a physiologic approach to the treatment of urinary incontinence. Urol Clin North Am 18:393–407
Fanciullacci F, Zanollo A, Sandri S, Catanzaro F (1988) The neuropathic bladder in children with spinal cord injury. Paraplegia 26:83–86
Fjorback MV, Hansen J, Dalmose A, Rijkhoff NJM, Sinkjaer T (2003) A portable device for experimental treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Neuromodulation 6:158–165
Gerridzen RG, Thijssen AM, Dehoux E (1992) Risk factors for upper tract deterioration in chronic spinal cord injury patients. J Urol 147:416–418
Girsch W, Koller R, Holle J, Bijak M, Lanmuller H, Mayr W, Thoma H (1996) Vienna phrenic pacemaker—experience with diaphragm pacing in children. Eur J Pediatr Surg 6:140–143
Godec CJ (1980) Detrusor hyperreflexia inhibited by anal dilatation. Urology 15:321–324
Grill WM, Creasey GH, Wu K, Takaoka Y (2001) Detection of hyperreflexia-like increases in bladder pressure by recording of sensory nerve activity in human spinal cord injury. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Meeting of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS), Aalborg, Denmark, p. 234
Guys JM, Haddad M, Planche D, Bonneru JJ, Aquaron, Bladou F (2002) Sacral nerve neuromodulation in children’s neurogenic bladder: midterm results of a prospective study. Proc 49th Annual International Congress of the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons (BAPS), Cambridge, UK, paper 59
Häbler HJ, Jänig W, Koltzenburg M (1993) Myelinated primary afferents of the sacral spinal cord responding to slow filling and distension of the cat urinary bladder. J Physiol 463:449–460
Hohenfellner M, Pannek J, Botel U, Dahms S, Pfitzenmaier J, Fichtner J, Hutschenreiter G, Thuroff JW (2001) Sacral bladder denervation for treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia and autonomic dysreflexia. Urology 58:28–32
Hohenfellner M, Humke J, Hampel C, Dahms S, Matzel K, Roth S, Thuroff JW, Schultz-Lampel D (2001) Chronic sacral neuromodulation for treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction: long-term results with unilateral implants. Urology 58:887–892
Ishigooka M, Suzuki Y, Hashimoto T, Sasagawa I, Nakada T, Handa Y (1998) A new technique for sacral nerve stimulation: a percutaneous method for urinary incontinence caused by spinal cord injury. Br J Urol 81:315–318
Jezernik S, Grill WM, Sinkjaer T (2001) Detection and inhibition of hyperreflexia-like bladder contractions in the cat by sacral nerve root recording and electrical stimulation. Neurourol Urodyn 20:215–230
Jezernick S, Craggs M, Grill WM, Creasey G, Rijkhoff NJM (2002) Electrical stimulation for the treatment of bladder dysfunction: current status and future possibilities. Neurol Res 24:413–430
Johnston LB, Borzyskowski M (1998) Bladder dysfunction and neurological disability at presentation in closed spina bifida. Arch Dis Child 79:33–38
Kirkham APS, Shah NC, Knight SL, Shah PJR, Craggs MD (2001) The acute effects of continuous and conditional neuromodulation on the bladder in spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 39:420–428
Kirse DJ, Werle AH, Murphy JV, Eyen TP, Bruegger DE, Hornig GW, Torkelson RD (2002) Vagus nerve stimulator implantation in children. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 128:1263–1268
Kondo A, Otano, T, Takita T (1982) Suppression of bladder instability by penile squeeze. Br J Urol 54:360–362
Kumar K, Toth C, Nath RK (1997) Deep brain stimulation for intractable pain: a 15-year experience. Neurosurgery 40:736–746
Langman AW, Quigley SM, Souliere CR Jr (1996) Cochlear implants in children. Pediatr Clin North Am 43:1217–1231
Lee YH, Creasey GH (2002) Self-controlled dorsal penile nerve stimulation to inhibit bladder hyperreflexia in incomplete spinal cord injury: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 83:273–277
Leng WW, Blalock HJ, Fredriksson WH, English SF, McGuire EJ (1999) Enterocystoplasty or detrusor myectomy? Comparison of indications and outcomes for bladder augmentation. J Urol 161:758–763
Liberson WT, Holmquist HJ, Scot D, Dow M (1961) Functional electrotherapy: stimulation of the peroneal nerve synchronized with the swing phase of the gait of hemiplegic patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 42:101–105
Lie HR, Lagergren J, Rasmussen F, Lagerkvist B, Hageslteen J, Borjeson MC, Muttilainen M, Taudorf K (1991) Bowel and bladder control of children with myelomeningocele—a Nordic study. Dev Med Child Neurol 33:1053–1061
Loizou PC (1999) Introduction to cochlear implants. IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag 18:32–42
McGuire EJ, Woodside JR, Borden TA, Weiss RM (1981) Prognostic value of urodynamic testing in myelodysplastic patients. J Urol 126:205–209
Murray K, Mundy AR, Blackford HN, Stephenson TP (1986) Transvesical phenolisation of the pelvic plexuses: a simple technique for the treatment of refractory detrusor instability and hyperreflexia. Urol Int 41:202–206
North RB, Roark GL (1995) Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. Neurosurg Clin North Am 6:145–155
Pannek J, Diederichs W, Bötel U (1997) Urodynamically controlled management in spinal cord injury in children. Neurourol Urodyn 16:285–292
Parisier SC, Chute PM, Popp AL, Hanson MB (1997) Surgical techniques for cochlear implantation in the very young child. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 117:248–254
Pollak P, Fraix V, Krack P, Moro E, Mendes A, Chabardes S, Koudsie A, Benabid AL (2002) Treatment results: Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord 17 [Suppl 3]:S75–S83
Prasad KV, Vaidyanathan S (1993) Intravesical oxybutynin chloride and clean intermittent catheterisation in patients with neurogenic vesical dysfunction and decreased bladder capacity. Br J Urol 72:719–722
Reid CJD, Borzyskowski M (1993) Lower urinary-tract dysfunction in cerebral-palsy. Arch Dis Child 68:739–742
Reiner I, Jones M, Donnell S, Rickwood AM (1992) Incidence of normal micturition in myelomeningocele patients. Arch Dis Child 67:640–641
Rijkhoff NJM (1996) Selective detrusor activation by electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve roots; a theoretical experimental and clinical study. PhD-thesis, Catholic University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Rijkhoff NJM, Holsheimer J, Koldewijn EL, Struijk JJ, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Debruyne FMJ, Wijkstra H (1994) Selective stimulation of sacral nerve roots for bladder control: a study by computer modelling. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 4:413–424
Rijkhoff NJM, Koldewijn EL, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Debruyne FMJ, Wijkstra H (1994) Acute animal studies on the use of an anodal block to reduce urethral resistance in sacral root stimulation. IEEE Trans Rehab Eng 2:92–99
Rijkhoff NJM, Wijkstra H, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Debruyne FMJ (1997) Urinary bladder control by electrical stimulation. Review of electrical stimulation techniques in spinal cord injury. Neurourol Urodyn 16:39–53
Rijkhoff NJM, Wijkstra H, van Kerrebroeck PEV, Debruyne FMJ (1997) Selective detrusor activation by electrical sacral nerve root stimulation in spinal cord injury. J Urol 157:1504–1508
Roubertie A, Echenne B, Cif L, Vayssiere N, Hemm S, Coubes P (2000) Treatment of early-onset dystonia: update and a new perspective. Childs Nerv Syst 16:334–340
Sachweh JS, Vazquez-Jimenez JF, Schondube FA, Daebritz SH, Dorge H, Muhler EG, Messmer BJ (2000) Twenty years experience with pediatric pacing: epicardial and transvenous stimulation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 17:455–461
Sauerwein D (1990) Die operative Behandlung der spastischen Blasenlähmung bei Querschnittlähmung. Urologe A 29:196–203
Schafer W, Liao L, van Waalwijk van Doorn W, de Ridder D, Brady C, Fowler C et al (2000) Normal urodynamic data: measurements in asymptomatic young males. Neurourol Urodyn 19:484–485
Schmidt RA (1988) Applications of neurostimulation in urology. Neurourol Urodyn 7:585–592
Schmidt RA (1991) Treatment of unstable bladder. Urology 37:28–32
Schurch B, Rodic B, Jeanmonod D (1997) Posterior sacral rhizotomy and intradural anterior sacral root stimulation for treatment of the spastic bladder in spinal cord injured patients. J Urol 157:610–614
Schurch B, Stöhrer M, Kramer G, Schmid DM, Gaul G, Hauri D (2000) Botulinum-A toxin for treating detrusor hyperreflexia in spinal cord injured patients: a new alternative to anticholinergic drugs? Preliminary results. J Urol 164:692–697
Sekar P, Wallace DD, Waites KB, DeVivo MJ, Lloyd LK, Stover SL, Dubovsky EV (1997) Comparison of long-term renal function after spinal cord injury using different urinary management methods. Arch Phys Med Rehab 78:992–997
Shabalov VA, Bril AG, Kurenkov AL, Bystrov AV (2000) [The use of chronic epidural electrostimulation of the spinal cord in children with spastic diplegia—a type of infantile cerebral palsy] (in Russian). Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko 3:2–6
Siegel SW, Catanzaro F, Dijkema HE, Elhilali MM, Fowler CJ, Gajewski JB, Hassouna MM, Janknegt RA, Jonas U, van Kerrebroeck PE, Lycklama a Nijeholt AA, Oleson KA, Schmidt RA (2000) Long-term results of a multicenter study on sacral nerve stimulation for treatment of urinary urge incontinence, urgency-frequency, and retention. Urology 56 [Suppl 6A]:87–91
Simpson BA (1998) Neuromodulation in Europe: regulation, variation and trends. Pain Rev 5:124–131
Soler D, Borzyskowski M (1998) Lower urinary tract dysfunction in children with central nervous system tumors. Arch Dis Child 79:344–347
Tanagho EA (1992) Neuromodulation in the management of voiding dysfunction in children. J Urol 148:655–657
Van Gool JD, Dik P, de Jong TPVM (2001) Bladder-sphincter dysfunction in myelomeningocele. Eur J Pediatr 160:414–420
Van Kerrebroeck PE, Koldewijn EL, Wijkstra H, Debruyne FM (1992) Urodynamic evaluation before and after intradural posterior sacral rhizotomies and implantation of the Finetech-Brindley anterior sacral root stimulator. Urodinamica 1:7–16
Van Kerrebroeck PE, Koldewijn EL, Debruyne FM (1993) World wide experience with the Finetech-Brindley sacral anterior root stimulator. Neurourol Urodyn 12:497–503
Van Kerrebroeck PE, Koldewijn EL, Rosier PF, Wijkstra H, Debruyne FM (1996) Results of the treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in spinal cord injury by sacral posterior root rhizotomy and anterior sacral root stimulation. J Urol 155:1378–1381
Vereecken RL, Das J, Grisar P (1984) Electrical sphincter stimulation in the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia of paraplegics. Neurourol Urodyn 3:145–154
Waltz JM (1997) Spinal cord stimulation: a quarter century of development and investigation—a review of its development and effectiveness in 1,336 cases. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 69:288–299
Weesemayer DE, Hunt CE, Brouillette RT, Silvestri JM (1992) Diaphragm pacing in infants and children. J Pediatr 120:1–8
Weld KJ, Graney MJ, Dmochowski RR (2000) Differences in bladder compliance with time and associations of bladder management with compliance in spinal cord injured patients. J Urol 163:1228–1233
Wheeler JS, Walter JS, Zaszczurynski PJ (1992) Bladder inhibition by penile nerve stimulation in spinal cord injury patients. J Urol 147:100–103
Zamponi N, Rychlicki F, Cardinali C, Luchetti A, Trignani R, Ducati A (2002) Intermittent vagal nerve stimulation in paediatric patients: 1-year follow-up. Childs Nerv Syst 18:61–66
Acknowledgements
Dr. Rijkhoff’s research activities are supported by the Danish Technical Research Council and by the European Commission (REBEC project).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rijkhoff, N.J.M. Neuroprostheses to treat neurogenic bladder dysfunction: current status and future perspectives. Childs Nerv Syst 20, 75–86 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0859-1
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0859-1