Po-Yi Tsai, Chih-Pin Wang, Fang-Yao Chiu, Yu-An Tsai, Yue-Cune Chang, Tien-Yow Chuang
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0280

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the usefulness of functional magnetic stimulation in controlling neurogenic bowel dysfunction in spinal cord injured patients with supraconal and conal/caudal lesions, and to investigate the efficacy of this regimen with a 3-month follow-up.
Design: A longitudinal, prospective before-after trial. Subjects: A total of 22 patients with chronic spinal cord injured and intractable neurogenic bowel dysfunction. They were divided into group 1 (supraconal lesion) and group 2 (conal/caudal lesion).
Methods: The colonic transit time assessment and Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom Questionnaire were carried out for each patient before they received a 3-week functional magnetic stimulation protocol and on the day following the treatment. Results and
Conclusion: Following functional magnetic stimulation, the mean colonic transit time for all patients decreased from 62. 6 to 50. 4 h (p < 0. 001). The patients' Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom scores decreased from 24. 5 to 19. 2 points (p < 0. 001). The colonic transit time decrement in both group 1 (p = 0. 003) and group 2 (p = 0. 043) showed significant differences, as did the Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom score in both groups following stimulation and in the 3-month follow-up results (p < 0. 01). The improvements in bowel function indicate that functional magnetic stimulation, featuring broad-spectrum application, can be incorporated successfully into other therapies as an optimal adjuvant treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction resulting from spinal cord injury.