Acute Genital Nerve Stimulation for Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Individuals Living With Spinal Cord Injury
Key facts
- Where
- Cleveland, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- MetroHealth Medical System Old Brooklyn CampusCleveland, United StatesContact: Mayson MooreTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- MetroHealth Medical Center
- Trial code
- NCT05626816
- Record updated
- 4 November 2026
- Original description
Bowel issues occur in nearly all people after spinal cord injury (SCI) and one major complication is fecal incontinence (accidents). This complication has been repeatedly highlighted by people living with SCI as particularly life-limiting and in need of more options for interventions. This study will test the effect of genital nerve stimulation (GNS), with non-invasive electrodes, on the activity of the anus and rectum of persons after SCI. Recording anorectal manometry (ARM) endpoints tells us the function of those tissues and our study design (ARM without stim, ARM with stim, ARM without stim) will allow us to conclude the GNS effect and whether it is likely to reduce fecal incontinence. The study will also collect medical, demographic, and bowel related functional information. The combination of all of these data should help predict who will respond to stimulation, what will happen when stimulation is applied, and if that stimulation is likely to provide an improvement in fecal continence for people living with SCI.Read full original descriptionShow less
Short-term Genital Nerve Stimulation to Modulate Anorectal Reflex Activity in Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Individuals Living With Spinal Cord Injury
Bowel issues occur in nearly all people after spinal cord injury (SCI) and one major complication is fecal incontinence (accidents). This complication has been repeatedly highlighted by people living with SCI as particularly life-limiting and in need of more options for interventions. This study will test the effect of genital nerve stimulation (GNS), with non-invasive electrodes, on the activity of the anus and rectum of persons after SCI. Recording anorectal manometry (ARM) endpoints tells us the function of those tissues and our study design (ARM without stim, ARM with stim, ARM without stim) will allow us to conclude the GNS effect and whether it is likely to reduce fecal incontinence. The study will also collect medical, demographic, and bowel related functional information. The combination of all of these data should help predict who will respond to stimulation, what will happen when stimulation is applied, and if that stimulation is likely to provide an improvement in fecal continence for people living with SCI.
Inclusion: Traumatic SCI; Minimum 6 months post-injury; Aged 18 years or older; Neurological level of injury T12 or higher AIS grade A-D defined by ISNCSCI; Response to genital nerve stimulation upon screening; Able to understand and provide informed consent.
Exclusion: Presence of cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator or other implanted FES device if, upon clinical exam, it may have an interaction with GNS; Currently enrolled in another functional electrical stimulation (FES) research trial; Females who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the trial; In the judgement of the PI or Co-Investigators, presence of medical complications that may interfere with the execution of the study.