At-Home Genital Nerve Stimulation for SCI Bowel

NCT ID: NCT06836739

Last Updated: 2025-12-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

12 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-03-01

Study Completion Date

2026-09-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to test whether electrical stimulation of the skin in the pelvic area (near the genitals) can reduce the reflexes that cause bowel accidents in people with spinal cord injuries. Current bowel treatments either involve diet and medications or surgery. This study will evaluate whether electrical stimulation can be an alternate option for bowel management.

Researchers will:

* Use an FDA approved Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device off-label
* Compare a target stimulation level to a placebo stimulation level

Participants will:

* Use electrical stimulation on the skin in the pelvic area for 6-8 hours each day for 4 weeks at home
* Visit the research center 3 times to participate in exams and answer questions
* Keep a daily diary of their bowel symptoms and stimulation times

Detailed Description

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The objective of this proposal is to determine how genital nerve stimulation (GNS) acutely modulates neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) in individuals with different severities of spinal cord injury (SCI) and to determine the key study design and methodology parameters of daily at-home administration of GNS. This study will determine the feasibility of daily application of GNS as an intervention for NBD. Key feasibility measures related to dosage and adherence will be evaluated.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Target genital nerve stimulation

Stimulation waveforms consist of biphasic, charge-balanced square pulses with a pulse width of 0.2 ms and delivered at 20 Hz. Stimuli will be applied over a range of amplitudes to determine the threshold of stimulation for producing reflex contraction of the anal sphincter (the pudendo-anal reflex). Subsequent stimulation will be applied at threshold for the first week, at 1.5 threshold for the second week, and at twice threshold (or max tolerance) for the third and fourth weeks. The typical stimulation range is 20-40 milliamps (mA) and has been shown to be well tolerated by individuals with sensation. Stimulation will be applied continuously for 6-8 hours daily for four weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Genital nerve stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Genital nerve stimulation (GNS) will be administered via non-invasive surface skin electrodes. In men, two surface electrodes (1 cm diameter) will be placed on the dorsum of the penile shaft 2 cm apart. In women, one surface electrode will be placed near the clitoris and a second surface electrode will be placed on the labia majora or inner thigh. The electrodes will be connected to an electrical stimulator device.

Sham genital nerve stimulation

Sham stimulation will be applied in the same manner as target stimulation, except that the stimulation frequency will be 1 Hz and the stimulation amplitude will be set to a limit that is at the threshold of perception if individuals have sensation, or 10 mA if they do not have sensation. Stimulation will be applied continuously for 6-8 hours daily for four weeks.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Genital nerve stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Genital nerve stimulation (GNS) will be administered via non-invasive surface skin electrodes. In men, two surface electrodes (1 cm diameter) will be placed on the dorsum of the penile shaft 2 cm apart. In women, one surface electrode will be placed near the clitoris and a second surface electrode will be placed on the labia majora or inner thigh. The electrodes will be connected to an electrical stimulator device.

Interventions

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Genital nerve stimulation

Genital nerve stimulation (GNS) will be administered via non-invasive surface skin electrodes. In men, two surface electrodes (1 cm diameter) will be placed on the dorsum of the penile shaft 2 cm apart. In women, one surface electrode will be placed near the clitoris and a second surface electrode will be placed on the labia majora or inner thigh. The electrodes will be connected to an electrical stimulator device.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Traumatic SCI.
2. Minimum of 6 months' post-injury.
3. Aged 18 years and older.
4. Neurological level of injury T12 or higher and AIS grade A-D, as defined by the ISNCSCI.
5. Score of 14 or higher on the ISCI BF BDS v2.1.
6. Response to genital nerve stimulation able to be elicited upon screening.
7. Able to understand and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Currently enrolled in another functional electrical stimulation (FES) research trial.
2. Females who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the duration of the trial (identified by self-report).
3. Presence of a cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or other implanted functional electrical stimulation device if, upon clinical evaluation, it may have an interaction with GNS.
4. In the judgment of the PI and Co-Investigators, presence of medical complications that may interfere with the execution of the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

MetroHealth Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Kimberly Anderson, PhD

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kim Anderson, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

MetroHealth System, Ohio

Locations

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MetroHealth Center for Rehabilitation Research

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Mayson Moore

Role: CONTACT

216-957-3518

Megan Hammond Nechols

Role: CONTACT

216-957-3562

Facility Contacts

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Mayson Moore

Role: primary

216-957-3518

Megan Hammond Nechols

Role: backup

216-957-3562

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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W81XWH2210778 - SC210121

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

W81XWH2210781 - SC210121P1

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

STUDY00000717

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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