The majority of patients with neuropathic incontinence and other pelvic floor conditions associated with straining at stool have damage to the pudendal nerves distal to the ischial spine. Sacral nerve stimulation appears to be a promising innovation and has been widely adopted and currently considered the standard of care for adults with moderate to severe fecal incontinence and following failed sphincter repair. From a decision-to-treat perspective, the short-term efficacy is good (70%–80%), but the long-term efficacy of sacral nerve stimulation is around 50%. Newer electrophysiological tests and improved anal endosonography would more effectively guide clinical decision making.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Characterization of Anal Slow Waves and Ultraslow Waves in Patients With Constipation and Healthy Subjects
  Lulu Zhang, Yoav Mazor, Gillian Prott, Michael Jones, Allison Malcolm
  Neurogastroenterology & Motility.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Fecal incontinence: challenges in electrodiagnosis and rehabilitation
  Naglaa A. Gadallah, Abeer K. El Zohiery, Youssy S. Gergius, Shaymaa A. Moussa
  Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• A systematic review of translation and experimental studies on internal anal sphincter for fecal incontinence
  Minsung Kim, Bo-Young Oh, Ji-Seon Lee, Dogeon Yoon, Wook Chun, Il Tae Son
  Annals of Coloproctology.2022; 38(3): 183.     CrossRef
• Fecal Incontinence and Diarrhea During Pregnancy
  Stacy B. Menees, Anthony Lembo, Aline Charabaty
  American Journal of Gastroenterology.2022; 117(10S): 26.     CrossRef
• Analgesic effect of structured anal skin care for perianal dermatitis after low anterior resection in the rectal cancer patients: prospective, single-center, open-label, therapeutic confirmatory, randomized clinical trial
  Gyung Mo Son, In Young Lee, Mi Sook Yun, Jung-Hea Youn, Hong Min An, Kyung Hee Kim, Seung Mi Yeo, Bokyung Ku, Myeong Suk Kwon, Kun Hyung Kim
  Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research.2022; 103(6): 360.     CrossRef
• Diagnostic approach to faecal incontinence: What test and when to perform?
  Wisam Sbeit, Tawfik Khoury, Amir Mari
  World Journal of Gastroenterology.2021; 27(15): 1553.     CrossRef
• A historical perspective of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for bowel dysfunction
  Elroy P. Weledji, Lukas Marti
  IJS Short Reports.2021; 6(3): e25.     CrossRef
• Physiotherapy for Prevention and Treatment of Fecal Incontinence in Women—Systematic Review of Methods
  Agnieszka Irena Mazur-Bialy, Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka, Marcin Opławski, Sabina Tim
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9(10): 3255.     CrossRef
• The anatomy of urination: What every physician should know
  Elroy P. Weledji, Divine Eyongeta, Eleanor Ngounou
  Clinical Anatomy.2019; 32(1): 60.     CrossRef
• Recent advances in managing fecal incontinence
  Giovanna Da Silva, Anne Sirany
  F1000Research.2019; 8: 1291.     CrossRef
• Recent advances in managing fecal incontinence
  Giovanna Da Silva, Anne Sirany
  F1000Research.2019; 8: 1291.     CrossRef
• Endoflip vs high‐definition manometry in the assessment of fecal incontinence: A data‐driven unsupervised comparison
  Ali Zifan, Catherine Sun, Guillaume Gourcerol, Anne M. Leroi, Ravinder K. Mittal
  Neurogastroenterology & Motility.2018;[Epub]     CrossRef