Rehabilitation in Fecal Incontinence in Geriatric Patients Using an Implantable Electrical Stimulator of the Sacral Nerves

Fecal incontinence is a health problem that leads to serious quality of life disturbances in the elderly, much greater than the ones generated by micturition disturbances. When physical therapy, habit changes and medication fail to control the disease, electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves at the level of the third sacral foramen represents a solution for eligible patients. Our research done on 29 patients, operated by the first author at Klinikum Bielefeld, Germany, revealed statistically significant improvements, slightly superior to the ones in the literature. As many as 82.75% of the patients experienced more than 70% reduction in the number of weekly incontinence episodes, correlated with a robust increase in the quality of life and level of daily physical activity. The aim of the present paper is to present our results after the intervention, and at 1-year follow-up, and to describe the surgical technique, hoping for an increased awareness and adoption in Romania.